శింగి బిడ్డకంటే శింగడు కారము తిన్నట్టు

shingi biddakante shingadu karamu tinnattu

Translation

When Singi brought forth a child, Śingaḍu ate of the medicine. Śingaḍu and Śingi are cant names for men and women of the wander- ing tribes ( Erukalas and Ênâdis or Yânâdis ). The men are polygamists and their wives out of jealousy often attempt to poison each other. The husband therefore tastes the medicine first.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where someone who is not directly affected by an event reacts more intensely or experiences more trouble than the person actually involved. It is used to mock people who display unnecessary empathy, overreact to others' problems, or take credit/pain for something they didn't do.

Related Phrases

When Singi gave birth, Singadu ate asafetida.

This proverb describes a situation where one person goes through a significant event or hardship, and another person undergoes a related, often unnecessary or symptomatic treatment/reaction. In old traditions, asafetida was given to women after childbirth for health; here, the husband (Singadu) consumes it instead. It is used to mock people who act as if they are affected by something that happened to someone else, or when someone seeks attention/remedy for a situation that doesn't directly involve them.

Like naming a child who is not yet born

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes plans or takes actions prematurely for something that hasn't happened yet or may never happen. It is similar to the English proverb 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch.'

When the cot was wet, it became tight. The cots used by the poorest classes are plaited with the fibres of the Cannabis Sativa which shrink when wet. A bad man is puffed up when flattered.

This expression is used to describe a situation or a problem that becomes increasingly difficult, rigid, or stubborn over time rather than resolving easily. It refers to how natural fibers like hemp or jute (kukki) shrink and tighten significantly after being soaked and then drying, making them nearly impossible to loosen.

When Singi gives birth, Singadu undergoes the dietary restrictions.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is not directly involved in an event or a problem acts as if they are the primary sufferer or the one affected. It highlights the irony of someone unnecessarily taking on the burden or mimicking the behavior of the person actually experiencing the situation.

Tying beads round an unborn child.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes elaborate plans or preparations for something that has not yet happened or may never happen. It is similar to the English expression 'Counting your chickens before they hatch.'

Don't reckon your eggs before they are laid. ( Latin. )*

A new beggar doesn't know the time.

This expression is used to describe someone who is new to a role, hobby, or status and shows excessive, often annoying enthusiasm or dedication because they haven't yet learned the limits or norms of that position. It is similar to the English concept of 'newfound zeal'.

A child seen with one's eyes is greater than a child born from the womb.

This proverb emphasizes that nurturing, seeing, and taking care of a child with one's own eyes is more significant than the mere biological act of giving birth. It is often used to highlight the value of adoption, foster care, or the bond formed through upbringing over biological ties.

"Śinganna, Śinganna, have you been to Addanki?" they asked. "I have been and come back" he replied. Śinganna was a simpleton who having heard that he was to be sent on an errand to Addanki, went off in the night without having received his message.

This expression is used to describe someone who gives a redundant, obvious, or meaningless answer to a simple question. It satirizes people who state the obvious as if they are providing significant information, or those who perform a task without achieving any real purpose or results.

Trumpet and cummin seed. Similar to the English slang expression " Bosh."

This expression is used to describe a situation that is nonsensical, worthless, or a complete waste of time. It refers to a task or a conversation that yields no useful result, often implying that something lacks substance or is a hollow claim.

A miser is worse than a poor person.

While a poor person lacks resources to spend, a miser has resources but refuses to use them for their own comfort or for the benefit of others. Therefore, a miser's life is compared to a barren land (beedu) that is useless despite its existence. It is used to criticize extreme stinginess.