తిన్నోడికి తిండిబెట్టడం, బోడిగుండోడికి తలపోయడం సులభం

tinnodiki tindibettadam, bodigundodiki talapoyadam sulabham

Translation

It is easy to feed someone who has already eaten, and easy to wash the head of a bald person.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe tasks that are redundant or deceptively easy because the recipient doesn't actually need the service or the effort required is minimal. It is often used to criticize someone who takes the easy way out or helps those who are already self-sufficient instead of those in genuine need.

Related Phrases

Taking and putting is a waste of sweetness; giving birth and sitting is a waste of pain.

This proverb highlights that repetitive or redundant actions often lead to unnecessary exhaustion or wasted effort. It specifically suggests that doing something only to undo it immediately (like serving food and taking it back) results in losing the benefit or joy, and enduring pain for no productive outcome is futile. It is used to describe tasks that are laborious but yield no meaningful result.

Cost is low, benefit is high.

This expression is used to describe something that requires minimal effort or investment but yields significant results or rewards. It is often used in the context of effective solutions, spiritual practices, or smart investments where the value gained far exceeds the price paid.

The fun of setting food before a man who has had his dinner, or of anointing a shaven head.

This proverb is used to describe redundant or useless efforts. Just as serving food to someone with a full stomach or attempting to groom a bald head provides no real benefit, performing actions where they are not needed is a waste of resources and time.

Making a knot between the shaven head and the knee.

This refers to the way of trying to bring together two disparate things for a harmonious blend. When such an attempt is made, the listener understands the absurdity.

It is easy to get attached, but hard to get rid of.

This expression is used to describe habits, relationships, or problems that are easy to start or acquire, but extremely difficult to escape or resolve. It is often used as a warning against picking up bad habits or entering into complicated commitments.

Small in price, but great in value.

This expression is used to describe something that requires very little investment or effort but yields great results or significant benefits. It is often used in the context of effective solutions, good deals, or simple virtues that provide immense value.

Telling is easy, doing is difficult.

This is a common saying used to point out that it is much easier to give advice or talk about a task than it is to actually execute it. It is the Telugu equivalent of 'easier said than done.'

Giving advice is easy, following it is difficult

This proverb is used to highlight the gap between theory and practice. It suggests that it is very easy to tell others what they should do, but much harder to actually implement those same suggestions in one's own life.

Thimmaraju for eating, Potharaju for working.

This expression is used to describe someone who is very enthusiastic and consumes a lot when it comes to eating, but is extremely lazy or avoids responsibility when it comes to doing any work. It highlights the contrast between greed and laziness.

When someone said the whole village is bald, she replied 'Your mother is bald, your sister is bald'.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or the ability to understand general context. Instead of understanding that a statement refers to a collective group (including themselves), they take it as a personal insult and react defensively by insulting the speaker back.