తినడానికి తవుడు లేదు కానీ, వారానికి ఒక పందిపిల్ల కావాలన్నట్టు
tinadaniki tavudu ledu kani, varaniki oka pandipilla kavalannattu
There is no bran to eat, but a piglet is needed every week.
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks basic necessities or financial stability but insists on living a luxurious or extravagant lifestyle beyond their means. It highlights the irony of having zero resources while maintaining expensive habits or making grand demands.
Related Phrases
తా తిన తవుడు లేదు, వారాంగనకు వడియాలట.
ta tina tavudu ledu, varanganaku vadiyalata.
There is no bran for oneself to eat, but fried dumplings for the courtesan.
This proverb describes a situation where a person lacks basic necessities for themselves but pretends to be wealthy or generous by offering luxuries to others. It is used to mock someone who engages in extravagant displays of vanity while being in a state of poverty or debt.
చెవుడు చెవుడూ అంటే, తవుడు తవుడూ అంటాడు
chevudu chevudu ante, tavudu tavudu antadu
When they call out "Deaf man! Deaf man!" he answers "[ I've got ] Bran, Bran!"
This proverb is used to describe a complete lack of communication or a situation where two people are talking about entirely different things. It refers to a person who misunderstands what is being said due to a lack of attention or hearing, responding with something totally irrelevant. It is used in situations where there is no sync between a question and an answer.
The jingle of the Telugu words is similar to that of the English equivalents.
తానూ ఒక మనిషేనా తవుడూ ఒక రొట్టేనా
tanu oka manishena tavudu oka rottena
He calls himself a man, and the bran he eats, bread. A vulgar person taking airs.
This proverb is used to dismiss someone's significance or capability by comparing them to something of poor quality, like bread made from bran (chaff). It is typically used when a person of low status or limited skill attempts to do something beyond their reach, or when someone is being ignored as insignificant.
చెవుడు చెవుడూ అంటే, తవుడు తవుడూ అన్నట్లు
chevudu chevudu ante, tavudu tavudu annatlu
When one person says 'deafness, deafness', the other person says 'bran, bran'
This expression describes a situation where two people are talking at cross-purposes or failing to communicate effectively due to a misunderstanding or a lack of attention. It is used when one person's words are completely misinterpreted by another, leading to a nonsensical or irrelevant response, much like a deaf person mishearing a word and replying with something that sounds similar but has a different meaning.
ప్రాయము వస్తే పందిపిల్ల కూడా బాగుంటుంది
prayamu vaste pandipilla kuda baguntundi
When it reaches the right age, even a piglet looks beautiful.
This proverb is used to describe how youth and the bloom of adolescence can make anyone look attractive, regardless of their natural features. It highlights that the peak of youth brings a natural glow and charm that is universal.
కోడిపిల్ల మీద పందిపిల్ల బలాదూరు
kodipilla mida pandipilla baladuru
Sacrificing a pig to save a chicken.
This expression is used to describe a situation where there is an overwhelming mismatch in strength or capability between two sides. It suggests that comparing the two is futile because one clearly dominates the other, often used in a sarcastic or dismissive tone regarding a one-sided competition.
ఉద్యోగికి ఒక ఊరనిలేదు, ముష్టివానికి ఒక ఇల్లనిలేదు
udyogiki oka uraniledu, mushtivaniki oka illaniledu
An employee has no single village; a beggar has no single house.
This proverb highlights that certain roles require constant movement and lack a permanent attachment to one place. An employee must travel or relocate wherever their job demands, and a beggar must move from house to house to survive. It is used to describe situations where a person cannot stay in one fixed location due to the nature of their work or life circumstances.
కొంగకు ఒక చెరువు లేదు, కోమటికి ఒక ఊరూ లేదు.
kongaku oka cheruvu ledu, komatiki oka uru ledu.
A heron is not bound to one pond, a merchant is not bound to one village.
This proverb describes the nature of opportunism or necessity. Just as a heron moves from one pond to another in search of fish, a businessman or merchant moves from village to village to find the best market. It is used to suggest that people who seek specific goals or profits will go wherever the opportunities are best, rather than staying in one fixed place.
తాను తిన తవుడు లేదు, వారాంగనకు వడియాలు కావా అన్నాట్ట.
tanu tina tavudu ledu, varanganaku vadiyalu kava annatta.
He doesn't have bran to eat himself, yet he asks for sun-dried crackers for his courtesan.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks basic necessities for themselves but attempts to indulge in extravagant luxuries or provide for others beyond their means. It mocks pretentious behavior or misplaced priorities where one tries to maintain a high status despite being in poverty.
తినడానికి తవుడు లేదు కానీ, వారానికి ఒక పందిపిల్ల కావాలన్నట్టు
tinadaniki tavudu ledu kani, varaniki oka pandipilla kavalannattu
He has not even bran to eat, but he wants a pig every week.
This proverb describes a person who lacks even the basic necessities of life yet indulges in or demands expensive luxuries and extravagant habits. It is used to mock someone who lives far beyond their means or has unrealistic, high-end desires despite being in poverty.