తమలపాకులో సున్నమంతటివాడు- తక్కువైనా ఎక్కువైనా బెడదే

tamalapakulo sunnamantativadu- takkuvaina ekkuvaina bedade

Translation

Like the lime paste on a betel leaf—too little or too much is a problem.

Meaning

This expression describes a person or a situation that requires precise balance. Just as the right amount of lime (sunnam) enhances a betel leaf but too little makes it tasteless and too much burns the mouth, this refers to people who are difficult to manage or things that must be handled with extreme care to avoid negative consequences.

Related Phrases

Even if born premature, a male child is better.

This is a traditional proverb reflecting historical societal preferences. It means that even a son with flaws or weaknesses is often valued more than other alternatives due to patriarchal lineage and support systems. In a broader metaphorical sense, it is used to suggest that a preferred outcome, even if imperfect or slightly deficient, is still better than an alternative.

Too small for a head-cloth and too large for a loincloth.

This expression is used to describe something that is of an awkward size or quality—too little for a significant purpose but too much for a trivial one. It refers to a person or thing that is caught in the middle, being neither here nor there, and therefore practically useless or difficult to categorize.

Low intelligence, high hunger

This expression is used to mock someone who lacks common sense or intelligence but has a very large appetite or demands a lot of resources. It describes a person who doesn't contribute much intellectually but consumes a lot.

Low intelligence, high hunger.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or productivity but has excessive demands or needs. It highlights a mismatch between one's capabilities and their consumption or expectations, often used sarcastically to mock laziness or incompetence combined with greed.

Even if life is low, the boasting is high

This expression describes a person who lives in humble or poor conditions but pretends to be very wealthy or superior. It is used to criticize someone who shows off excessively despite having no real status or resources to back it up.

If the rain is excessive, there's a scarcity due to mud; if the rain is insufficient, there's a scarcity due to drought.

This proverb highlights the delicate balance required in nature for agriculture and life. It explains that extreme conditions in either direction—too much rain (leading to waterlogging and rot) or too little rain (leading to drying up)—result in the same outcome: a lack of food and resources. It is used to describe situations where both extremes are equally detrimental.

Less than an annual ceremony, more than a monthly ceremony.

This expression is used to describe something that is mediocre, awkward, or in an indeterminate state. It refers to something that doesn't fit into a specific category or standard—being neither significant enough to be considered important (like a 'Taddinam') nor small enough to be ignored (like a 'Masikam'). It often describes a person's height, the scale of an event, or the quality of a piece of work that is neither here nor there.

Low-priced gold has more impurities.

This proverb is used to indicate that when something is sold at an unusually low price, it is often of poor quality or has many defects. It is a cautionary saying used to remind people that 'you get what you pay for' and that cheap goods often come with hidden costs or flaws.

Less work, more struggle (fidgeting/hustle)

This proverb is used to describe a person who does very little actual work but makes a huge fuss, creates unnecessary commotion, or tries too hard to appear busy. It characterizes someone who lacks efficiency but excels in pretending to be overwhelmed or ambitious.

Even if poor in food, is one poor in caste/status?

This proverb is used to express that even if someone lacks financial resources or basic necessities like food, they still maintain their self-respect, dignity, or social standing. It highlights the idea that poverty does not equate to a loss of character or heritage.