సొంతానికి ఏనుగు, ఉమ్మడికి పీనుగు
sontaniki enugu, ummadiki pinugu
An elephant for personal use, but a corpse for shared use.
This proverb describes a selfish attitude where an individual takes great care of their own property (treating it like a precious elephant), but neglects or treats shared/collective property with total disregard (like a worthless corpse). It is used to criticize people who lack a sense of responsibility toward public or joint assets.
Related Phrases
ఆకొన్న సింహానికి ఏనుగు దొరికినట్లు
akonna simhaniki enugu dorikinatlu
Like a hungry lion finding an elephant
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone in desperate need or intense desire suddenly finds a massive, perfect opportunity or a great reward. It implies that a long-awaited solution has appeared at just the right time, providing more than enough to satisfy the need.
ఏనుగు మోత, ఏనుగు మేత
enugu mota, enugu meta
The burden of an elephant, the fodder of an elephant
This expression is used to describe a situation or an asset (like a business, project, or luxury item) that yields high results or prestige but requires an equally high level of maintenance and expenditure. It signifies that big ventures come with big responsibilities and costs.
పనికి పీనుగు, తిండికి ఏనుగు
paniki pinugu, tindiki enugu
A corpse for work, an elephant for food
This expression is used to describe a lazy person who shows no energy or interest when it comes to doing work (acting like a lifeless corpse), but displays immense appetite and enthusiasm when it is time to eat (acting like a hungry elephant).
ఉమ్మడికి బడుగు, సొంతానికి పిడుగు
ummadiki badugu, sontaniki pidugu
Weak for common work, a thunderbolt for personal work.
This proverb describes a person who is lazy, slow, or indifferent when it comes to shared or community tasks, but displays immense energy, speed, and strength when working on their own personal interests. It is used to criticize selfishness or lack of accountability in collective efforts.
సొంతానికి పిడుగు, ఉమ్మడికి బడుగు
sontaniki pidugu, ummadiki badugu
A thunderbolt for personal work, a weakling for collective work.
This proverb describes a person who is extremely energetic and hardworking when it comes to their own personal tasks (like a thunderbolt), but becomes lazy, weak, or uninterested when it comes to shared or community responsibilities. It is used to critique selfishness and lack of cooperation in teamwork.
తిండికి పిడుగు, పనికి బడుగు.
tindiki pidugu, paniki badugu.
A thunderbolt for food, a weakling for work.
This proverb is used to describe a lazy person who has a massive appetite and eats very quickly (like a thunderbolt), but becomes tired, weak, or avoids effort when it is time to work. It highlights the irony of someone being energetic about consumption but lethargic about contribution.
ఏనుగులు తినేవాడికి పీనుగులు పిండివంటలట
enugulu tinevadiki pinugulu pindivantalata
To the man that eats elephants, corpses are as pastry.
This proverb is used to describe someone who has committed massive crimes or blunders and views smaller offenses as insignificant. It can also refer to people with extreme habits or capabilities for whom minor challenges are trivial.
A thoroughly bad man won't stick at trifles.
ఏనుగులు మ్రింగిన ఎల్లమ్మకు పీనుగులు పిప్పళ్ళు.
enugulu mringina ellammaku pinugulu pippallu.
For Ellamma who swallowed elephants, corpses are like pepper seeds.
This proverb is used to describe a person who has committed massive frauds or handled enormous tasks, for whom smaller wrongdoings or minor challenges are trivial. It signifies that someone who has dealt with something huge will find small things insignificant or easy to handle.
ఏనుగులు తినేవాడికి పీనుగలు పిండివంటలత్తా?
enugulu tinevadiki pinugalu pindivantalatta?
For one who eats elephants, are corpses considered delicacies?
This proverb is used to describe a person who handles massive tasks or challenges and finds small, trivial problems insignificant. It suggests that someone accustomed to grand or difficult things will not be bothered or satisfied by minor, petty matters. It is often used to mock someone trying to threaten or tempt a powerful person with something very small.
తిండికి ఏనుగు, పనికి పీనుగు
tindiki enugu, paniki pinugu
An elephant for eating, a corpse for working.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely greedy or has a huge appetite when it comes to consuming resources or food, but becomes completely useless, lazy, or inactive when it is time to do any work.