తీగ పెట్టినమ్మ మాట తీయగా, కమ్మపెట్టినమ్మ మాట కమ్మగా, విచ్చుటాకులున్నమ్మా నీమాట విన సహించదు అన్నదట.

tiga pettinamma mata tiyaga, kammapettinamma mata kammaga, vichchutakulunnamma nimata vina sahinchadu annadata.

Translation

The words of the one who gave a creeper are sweet; the words of the one who gave a leaf-stalk are savory; but the words of the one who has blooming leaves are unbearable to hear.

Meaning

This proverb highlights human psychology and bias based on self-interest. It refers to a person who praises those who have given them something (even something small like a vegetable creeper or a palm leaf) while being critical or intolerant of those who have plenty but have not shared anything with them yet. It is used to describe how people's perceptions of others are often colored by the benefits they receive.

Related Phrases

The giver is a housefly, the receiver is a tiger.

This proverb highlights the irony and unfairness in certain transactions or interpersonal dynamics. The person who gives or lends something is often timid, weak, or hesitant (like a fly) when asking for it back, while the person who received it becomes aggressive, demanding, or fierce (like a tiger) when it is time to return the favor or the item.

Will the woman with child refrain from bringing forth? will the woman who cooked not help herself? One is as certain as the other.

This proverb highlights the inevitability of certain actions or consequences. Just as birth is a natural and unavoidable result of pregnancy, and eating is the natural conclusion to cooking, some things in life are bound to happen once the process has started. It is used to describe outcomes that are certain, predictable, or logical conclusions to a situation.

He is a poor cook that cannot lick his own fingers. * Werden Armen lehet, dem zahlet Gott die Zinsen.

While the one who sewed is in the corner, the one who shouted is called a shrew.

This proverb describes a situation where the person who actually did the hard work remains quiet or unrecognized, while the person who merely made a lot of noise or complained is unfairly labeled as difficult or aggressive. It is used to point out ironies in social recognition and how vocal people are often judged differently than those who work silently.

A woman used to lovers and a woman used to eating cream cannot remain quiet.

This proverb is used to describe how once a person develops a taste for luxuries or a habit of indulging in forbidden/secret pleasures, they find it impossible to give them up. It highlights the persistent nature of deep-seated habits or addictions.

The mother who gave birth to children and the mother who gave alms will never perish.

This proverb emphasizes the virtues of motherhood and charity. It suggests that those who perform selfless acts—such as raising children or helping the needy—will always be blessed, protected, and will never face total ruin in life due to the good karma they have accumulated.

The woman who serves/gives doesn't go to heaven just for that, and the woman who doesn't serve doesn't go to hell just for that.

This expression is used to highlight that charity or hospitality should be done out of genuine kindness rather than for spiritual rewards or out of fear of sin. It suggests that one's character and overall actions matter more than a single act of giving or refusing. It is often used to tell someone not to be too proud of their charity or too judgmental of others' lack thereof.

The woman who has gives to the woman who has; the woman who has not also gives to the woman who has.

This proverb describes a social irony where resources or gifts tend to flow towards those who are already wealthy or powerful, rather than to those in need. It highlights that everyone seeks to please the rich, while the poor are often ignored or even forced to give up what little they have to those above them.

Look at the grace of the woman wearing a saree, and look at the vanity of the woman wearing a rag.

This proverb is used to criticize someone who lacks merit or status but acts with excessive pride or vanity compared to someone who is genuinely dignified. It highlights the irony of someone with very little acting more arrogant than someone who is well-off or naturally graceful.

Look at the finery of the well dressed and the strut of the poorly dressed woman.

This proverb is used to mock people who have very little but show off excessively. It compares someone wearing a beautiful saree (who has a right to be graceful) to someone wearing a mere piece of cloth or a rag but acting overly proud or vain. It highlights the irony of arrogance in those with meager means or status.

The woman who serves food is better than the woman who cooks it.

This proverb highlights that execution, presentation, or final delivery is often more recognized or appreciated than the hard work behind the scenes. In a practical sense, it means that even if someone does all the labor (cooking), the person who manages the final distribution or interaction (serving) often gets the credit or gratitude. It is used to describe situations where the person at the final stage of a process holds more influence.