తొంభై తొమ్మండ్రుగురు పోగయి తోలు చిరగ పొడిచినారు

tombhai tommandruguru pogayi tolu chiraga podichinaru

Translation

Ninety-nine persons joined together [ attacked a man, but only ] succeeded in scratching his skin. A cowardly mob.

Meaning

This proverb is used to mock a situation where a large group of people gathers to perform a simple task but ends up overcomplicating it or making a huge fuss about a very minor achievement. It highlights inefficiency and the lack of coordination despite having many people involved.

Notes

* Domanda al mio caro se sono ladro. 26

Related Phrases

Ninety-nine people gathered just to cut a piece of leather.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a large number of people are involved in a very simple task, leading to inefficiency, unnecessary commotion, or an underwhelming result. It highlights the futility of over-organizing or having too many people 'help' with a minor job.

Like piercing an ox's chest with a thorn-stick.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is deeply hurt or offended by a direct, blunt, and painful remark or action. Just as a sharp prod causes immediate and intense pain to an ox, this phrase refers to words or deeds that strike a person at their most vulnerable or sensitive spot, causing significant emotional distress.

A hundred fingerless people together could not milk a barren buffalo. A thing in every way impossible.

This proverb describes a situation where a large group of incompetent or unskilled people gather to perform a task that is fundamentally impossible or futile. It is used to mock the collective failure of many people attempting something useless or being unable to solve a problem because they lack the necessary tools or ability.

Like drinking milk and then punching the breast.

This proverb is used to describe extreme ingratitude or betrayal. It refers to a situation where someone receives help, nourishment, or kindness from a benefactor and then proceeds to harm or insult that very person. It is equivalent to the English expression 'biting the hand that feeds you.'

When asked, 'O housewife, how many husbands do you have?', she replied, 'With the one from the leather puppet show, there are ninety.'

This proverb is used to mock someone who is highly characterless or lacks any sense of shame. It describes a situation where a person is so promiscuous or undisciplined that they have lost count of their indiscretions, even including imaginary or trivial figures in their tally.

Death does not come even if the writing (fate) is pierced.

This expression is used to describe someone who is incredibly lucky or has survived a life-threatening situation against all odds. It implies that unless it is one's destined time to die, no amount of danger or misfortune can end their life.

When a flirtatious woman was asked how many husbands she had, she replied 'ninety including the first one'.

This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to minimize their excessive or shameless behavior by presenting it in a casual or matter-of-fact way. It highlights hypocrisy or a lack of shame in someone who has committed many mistakes or transgressions but speaks of them as if they are perfectly normal.

You are strutting as if the sun rose exclusively on your face.

This expression is used to mock someone who is acting overly proud, arrogant, or self-important without any actual justification. It suggests the person thinks they are the center of the universe or have achieved something extraordinary when they haven't.

A short-tailed young bull won't budge even if poked.

This proverb refers to a person who is extremely stubborn or thick-skinned. It suggests that someone with inherent defects or a naturally defiant attitude will not change their behavior or move forward, no matter how much you pressure, coax, or push them.

Ninety shirts for the first child, not even a change of clothes for the second child.

This proverb describes the common human tendency to over-prepare or spend excessively on a first-time experience or first-born child out of excitement, only to become indifferent, neglectful, or exhausted of resources by the second time. It highlights inconsistency in care and the waning of initial enthusiasm over time.