తవుడు తినేవాడు తహసీల్దారుడు, మీసాలకు సంపెంగ నూనె రాసేవాడు మాసూలుదారుడు
tavudu tinevadu tahasildarudu, misalaku sampenga nune rasevadu masuludarudu
One who eats bran is the Tahsildar, while the one who applies perfume to his mustache is the revenue collector.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person who does all the hard work or holds a higher responsibility lives in poverty or simplicity, while a subordinate or someone who contributes nothing lives a luxurious and showy life. It highlights the irony of unfair distribution of wealth or credit.
Related Phrases
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.
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.
చక్కెర తిన్న నోటితో తవుడు బొక్కినట్లు
chakkera tinna notito tavudu bokkinatlu
Like eating bran with a mouth that just tasted sugar.
This expression describes a situation where someone who is used to high quality, luxury, or praise suddenly experiences something inferior, unpleasant, or insulting. It captures the sharp contrast and disappointment felt when moving from a superior experience to a mediocre or degrading one.
తవుడు తినేవానికి మీసాలు ఎగబట్టేవాడొకడు
tavudu tinevaniki misalu egabattevadokadu
For the one who eats bran, there is another to lift his mustache.
This proverb describes a situation where an impoverished person who can barely afford to eat low-quality food (bran) hires or has an assistant to perform a trivial task (lifting his mustache) to maintain a false sense of status. It is used to mock people who show off or maintain unnecessary vanities they cannot afford, or to describe having useless assistants for simple tasks.
అంబలి తాగేవాడికి మీసాలు ఎగబట్టేవాడొకడు
ambali tagevadiki misalu egabattevadokadu
One person to lift the mustache for the one drinking porridge.
This proverb is used to mock someone who requires assistance for even the simplest tasks, or to describe a situation where an unnecessary helper is appointed for an insignificant job. It highlights laziness or a display of false prestige where a person wants others to serve them even for basic survival needs.
తవుడు బొక్కినంతవరకే దక్కినట్లు.
tavudu bokkinantavarake dakkinatlu.
Only the bran you have stuffed into your mouth is yours.
This proverb emphasizes that only what you have already consumed or secured for yourself is truly yours. It is used to describe situations involving uncertainty or limited resources, suggesting that one should value what they have already obtained rather than relying on future promises or potential gains that may never materialize.
ఇంటి దొంగను ఈశ్వరుడు కూడా పట్టలేడు
inti donganu ishvarudu kuda pattaledu
Even Šiva himself cannot find out a thief amongst the household.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone from within a group or family is causing harm or stealing. It implies that when the betrayal comes from an insider, it is nearly impossible to detect or prevent, as they know all the secrets and have everyone's trust.
రాయని భాస్కరుడు, గీయని చిత్రకారుడు
rayani bhaskarudu, giyani chitrakarudu
A Bhaskara (Sun/Poet) who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't draw.
This expression is used to sarcastically or humorously describe a person who claims to have great talents or titles but never actually produces any work or shows any results. It refers to someone who is a professional or expert 'in name only' without any practical application of their skills.
దిసమొల వానికి దిగంబరుడు బట్ట కట్టినట్లు
disamola vaniki digambarudu batta kattinatlu
Like a naked person dressing another naked person.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who is in need or lacks something tries to help another person in the same predicament. It signifies a futile or ironic act where the helper is just as helpless as the one being helped, making the assistance ineffective.
రాయని భాస్కరుడు
rayani bhaskarudu
A Bhaskara who does not write.
This expression is used to describe a person who is highly knowledgeable, talented, or qualified for a task but remains idle or refuses to perform the work. It originates from the poet 'Hulakki Bhaskara' who was part of the Ramayana translation; specifically, it refers to one who possesses the skill of a great poet (like Bhaskara) but does not put it into practice.