వెల్లుల్లి మానికి జోరీగ, పాడూరికి దరిబేసి రాజులు.

vellulli maniki joriga, paduriki daribesi rajulu.

Translation

A horse-fly for a garlic stalk, and a destitute king for a ruined village.

Meaning

This proverb describes situations where the 'leader' or 'ruler' matches the poor state of the thing being ruled. Just as a horse-fly is an annoying, insignificant creature on a garlic bulb, an impoverished or incompetent person becomes the 'king' of a village that is already in ruins. It is used to mock people who take pride in leading something worthless or to describe a perfect match of bad quality between a leader and their domain.

Related Phrases

Like a gadfly on a tiger's side. A safe refuge.

This expression describes a situation where a weak or insignificant person stays close to a powerful and dangerous person to act tough or harass others, relying on the tiger's presence for protection. It is used to mock someone who derives their confidence solely from their association with a powerful figure.

Even after eating garlic with high hopes, the disease remains the same.

This proverb describes a situation where one makes a significant sacrifice or does something unpleasant (like eating pungent garlic) in hopes of a specific benefit, only to find that the effort was futile and the problem persists. It is used when a difficult remedy fails to yield the expected results.

O mother, the gadfly is chasing the poor man.

This expression is used to describe a situation where troubles or misfortunes seem to disproportionately follow those who are already struggling. It highlights the irony and cruelty of fate where a person who has nothing is further harassed by even the smallest of nuisances or problems.

A thorn in the foot and a gadfly in the ear

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person is suffering from multiple, persistent irritations or problems simultaneously. Just as a thorn makes walking painful and a gadfly's buzzing is incessantly annoying, it refers to being pestered by small but significant troubles that give a person no peace.

Like a gadfly near the ear

Used to describe someone who is constantly nagging, complaining, or talking in an annoying manner. It refers to a persistent disturbance that is hard to ignore, much like the irritating buzz of a fly close to one's ear.

Why take medicine for something that heals itself, and why take medicine for something that won't?

This expression highlights the futility of worrying or intervening in certain situations. It suggests that if a problem will resolve on its own, intervention is unnecessary; if a problem is incurable or inevitable, intervention is useless. It is used to describe situations where one should accept the outcome rather than struggling in vain.

A beetle in the ear, a thorn in the foot

This expression is used to describe a situation or a person that is persistently annoying, irritating, or causing constant discomfort. Just as a buzzing beetle in the ear is distracting and a thorn in the foot makes every step painful, this phrase characterizes something that prevents peace of mind and requires immediate attention.

Garlick is as good as ten mothers.

This proverb emphasizes the immense medicinal and health benefits of onions. Just as a mother provides care and nourishment to her child, the onion is said to provide health protection equivalent to the care of ten mothers. It is used to highlight the importance of including onions in one's diet for overall well-being.

Like a gad-fly flying into a new pot. The pot contains nothing, and the mouth being narrow, the fly has some difficulty in getting out again.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone or something creates a lot of noise, disturbance, or chaos in a quiet, pristine, or orderly environment. Just as a fly buzzing inside a resonant new clay pot creates an amplified and annoying sound, this refers to an individual who causes an unnecessary commotion or spoils a peaceful atmosphere.

Like a horsefly being beside a tiger

This expression is used to describe a situation where a weak or insignificant person stays close to a powerful person to feel important, or to describe a constant, annoying presence that bothers someone much more powerful than themselves.