రొయ్యగాడికి బారెడు మీసం, రోషగాడికి మూరెడు మీసం
royyagadiki baredu misam, roshagadiki muredu misam
The prawn has a fathom-long mustache, while the brave man has a cubit-long mustache.
This proverb is used to mock people who boast about their outward appearance or trivial attributes while lacking true character or courage. It highlights that physical features (like the long antennae of a prawn) do not signify merit or strength, as even a small creature can have longer 'whiskers' than a hero.
Related Phrases
ముడి మూరెడు సాగదు
mudi muredu sagadu
A knot cannot be lengthened a cubit.
This proverb is used to describe a situation or a plan that has reached its limit and cannot be extended or improved further. It signifies that small fixes or 'knots' in a system don't add real length or value, and often suggests that something is fundamentally limited or at a standstill.
వెన్ను మూరెడు, దంటు బారెడు.
vennu muredu, dantu baredu.
The ear of grain is a cubit long, but the stalk is a fathom long.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the overhead, effort, or waste (represented by the long stalk) far exceeds the actual result, profit, or utility (represented by the small ear of grain). It signifies disproportionate effort or high maintenance for a very small return.
మూరెడు ఇంట్లో బారెడు కర్ర
muredu intlo baredu karra
A stick two yards long in a room one cubit square. A defiant speech in answer to a threat.
This proverb describes a situation where an accessory or a solution is disproportionately larger or more complex than the actual problem or the space it occupies. It is used to mock inefficiency, poor planning, or when something is overly cumbersome for its intended purpose.
ముక్కు మూరెడు, సిగ బారెడు
mukku muredu, siga baredu
Nose is a cubit long, but the hair bun is a fathom long.
This expression is used to describe someone who exaggerates their appearance or qualities, or to describe an awkward/disproportionate situation. It often refers to a person who makes a mountain out of a molehill, or someone who focuses excessively on minor embellishments while the core reality is different.
సిగబారెడు దండమూరెడు
sigabaredu dandamuredu
A yard of hair, but only a cubit of garland.
This expression is used to describe a situation where there is a significant disparity between the effort/status and the final result or reward. It specifically refers to someone having very long hair (a yard) but wearing a very short flower garland (a cubit), symbolizing inadequacy or a lack of proportion in decoration or appreciation.
ముక్కు మూరెడు, శిగ బారెడు
mukku muredu, shiga baredu
The nose is a cubit long, and the hair knot is a fathom long.
This expression is used to describe a situation where the secondary or decorative aspects of something far exceed the actual core or essential part. It is often used to criticize someone who over-exaggerates their features, spends excessively on trivialities, or when the cost/effort of maintenance outweighs the value of the object itself.
కుచ్చు ఇంటికి బరువైతే, మీసం రోషానికి బరువౌతుందా?
kuchchu intiki baruvaite, misam roshaniki baruvautunda?
If a small tassel is a burden to the house, will a mustache be a burden to one's self-respect?
This proverb is used to emphasize that responsibilities or symbols of honor and dignity are never perceived as a burden by those who value them. Just as a mustache is a symbol of pride and manhood that one carries gladly, essential duties or matters of honor should not be complained about as weight.
రొయ్యకు లేదు బారెడు మీసం
royyaku ledu baredu misam
The prawn doesn't even have a body, but it has a yard-long mustache.
This expression is used to describe someone who lacks basic substance, status, or capability, yet makes grand displays of arrogance or carries an oversized ego. It highlights the irony of having a massive 'identity' or 'show' without any actual foundation.
బడాయి బారెడు, పొగచుట్ట మూరెడు
badayi baredu, pogachutta muredu
His arrogance is two yards long and his cheroot a cubit long.
This proverb is used to describe people who boast excessively or put on great displays of grandeur despite having very humble or meager means. It highlights the disparity between one's empty talk (bragging) and their actual reality or substance.
ఏరు మూరెడు తీస్తే, కయ్య బారెడు తీస్తుంది.
eru muredu tiste, kayya baredu tistundi.
When the river goes down a cubit, the water in the field goes down a fathom. If you lose a little in the favor of the great, you sink four times as much in the estimation of the people.
This proverb highlights how small negligence or a minor initial damage can lead to a much larger disaster. In agriculture, it specifically refers to how a small breach in a water channel (eru) can quickly result in the total destruction of the field (kayya) due to the force of the water. It is used to advise people to address problems while they are still small.