సూది కుత్తుక, దయ్యం పక్కలు

sudi kuttuka, dayyam pakkalu

Translation

Needle-sized throat, but demon-sized sides (waist/body).

Meaning

This expression is used to describe someone who claims to eat very little (has a throat as narrow as a needle) but grows as large as a demon, or more commonly, someone who pretends to be very frugal or modest while actually being extremely greedy or having insatiable desires.

Related Phrases

All struggles are just for a handful of food

This expression is used to signify that all the hard work, toil, and various struggles a person undergoes in life are ultimately for basic sustenance and survival. It is often used to express a sense of humility or philosophical resignation regarding the grind of daily life.

The crop from Kolleru is not even enough for food.

This expression is used to describe a situation where the income or result from a project is barely enough to cover the basic expenses or survival costs, leaving no room for profit or savings. Historically, farming in the Kolleru lake region was unpredictable due to floods, often yielding just enough to eat.

There is no appetite for food unhoped for.

This expression suggests that if you have no interest or hope in obtaining something, you won't feel the need or 'hunger' for it. It is used to describe a state of indifference or detachment, where the lack of expectation leads to a lack of desire.

If you get work, will food be wanting ?

This proverb emphasizes the value of hard work and self-reliance. It means that as long as a person is willing to put in physical effort and work hard, they will never have to worry about basic necessities like food. It is used to encourage someone to be industrious rather than lazy or dependent on others.

Birth is for dying, growth is for breaking, and prices fall only to rise again.

This proverb highlights the cyclical and inevitable nature of life and worldly affairs. It conveys that everything that begins must end, everything that rises must eventually fall, and fluctuations (like market prices) are a natural part of existence. It is used to suggest that change is the only constant and to encourage stoicism during transitions.

Choking the neck during the Krittika season.

This proverb refers to the intense, suffocating heat experienced during the 'Krittika Karthe' (a specific period in the lunar calendar, usually in May). It describes a situation where the weather is so hot and humid that it feels as though someone is literally squeezing or choking your throat, making it difficult to breathe or stay comfortable.

Like praying to a deity, only for it to possess you like a ghost.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone seeks help or protection from a person or entity, but instead of receiving help, that very person or entity becomes a source of trouble or misery. It is similar to the concept of a 'blessing becoming a curse' or a savior turning into an oppressor.

In unfavorable times, even a frog becomes a ghost.

This proverb is used to describe how when someone's luck is bad or they are going through a period of misfortune, even the smallest, most insignificant problems or people can become major obstacles and cause significant trouble.

No matter how much is harvested, it's for food; no matter how much one has, it ends at the cremation ground.

This proverb reflects on the ultimate simplicity and transience of life. It emphasizes that despite one's wealth, achievements, or surplus, the basic necessity remains food, and the final destination for everyone is death. It is used to counsel humility and to remind people not to be overly greedy or proud of their possessions.

If there is hard work, will there be a shortage of food?

This proverb emphasizes the dignity and reward of labor. It means that as long as a person is willing to work hard and put in the effort, they will never have to worry about basic necessities like food. It is used to encourage industriousness and self-reliance.