వెచ్చంగా ఉంటే ఏరుకొని తింటారు, చల్లబడితే చల్లాచెదురవుతారు

vechchanga unte erukoni tintaru, challabadite challacheduravutaru

Translation

If it is warm, they pick and eat; if it turns cold, they scatter away.

Meaning

This proverb describes fair-weather friends or opportunistic people. It suggests that as long as someone has wealth, power, or 'warmth' (resources), people will flock to them to benefit. However, once those resources are gone or the situation turns 'cold' (difficult), those same people will abandon them immediately.

Related Phrases

If you are rich, will you eat your gold ? A man, however rich, can only live by food, like other men.

This proverb is used to emphasize that basic necessities like food are the same for everyone, regardless of their wealth. It suggests that money cannot buy everything and that even the richest person must eat simple grains to survive, reminding people to remain humble and practical about the value of wealth.

If [ the people ] stay, it is a village; if [ the people ] go, it is a ruin.

This proverb describes something that is only valuable or functional as long as it is maintained or occupied. It is often used to refer to old houses, ancestral properties, or even human relationships, suggesting that once care or occupancy ceases, they quickly fall into decay and become worthless.

Like pouring water into one's own stove when the neighbor is flourishing.

This proverb describes the height of envy and spite. It refers to people who are so jealous of others' success (greenery/prosperity) that they self-destruct or stop their own progress out of sheer malice or depression caused by seeing others thrive.

If it is green, it crawls; if it is hot, it leaves.

This is a traditional Telugu riddle where the answer is 'Moisture' or 'The feeling of lushness'. In a metaphorical sense, it is often used to describe wealth or prosperity (represented by 'greenery'), noting that people will flock to you when you are prosperous but will abandon you when times become difficult or 'hot'.

If it stays, it is a village; if it is gone, it is a ruin.

This expression refers to things that are valuable only as long as they are functional or maintained. It is often used to describe the fragility of human life or temporary possessions, implying that once the essence or life is gone, only a useless shell remains.

When his neighbour prospered he poured water on his own hearth.

This proverb describes the toxic nature of extreme envy. It refers to people who are so jealous of others' success or prosperity (being 'green') that they self-destruct or extinguish their own progress and happiness (extinguishing their own cooking fire) out of spite or misery.

An envious act. To lose one eye that you may deprive another of two. (Spanish.)!

Like going for plowing and returning after just dusting oneself off.

This proverb is used to describe a person who goes to perform a heavy or significant task but returns quickly without doing any work, having merely performed the superficial action of cleaning their clothes. It signifies laziness, lack of effort, or failing to fulfill a responsibility.

Those who are green (prosperous) do not know the warmth (fever/pain) of others.

This proverb is used to describe how people living in prosperity or good health often fail to empathize with or understand the struggles and hardships of others. It highlights a lack of sensitivity that comes from being in a comfortable position.

If it's white it's milk, if it's dark it's water. Said of a simple minded, guileless man.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely naive, innocent, or gullible. It refers to someone who lacks discernment and blindly believes whatever they are told based on superficial appearances without any critical thinking.

A person who comes for alms, even if not truly a relative, is a guest for that meal.

This proverb emphasizes the cultural value of hospitality and compassion. It suggests that anyone who approaches your door in need should be treated with the same respect and care as a relative, at least for the duration of that encounter. It is used to remind people to be generous and kind to strangers or those less fortunate.