From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Literally "to be (too) narrow for a shell," perhaps in reference to poverty causing malnutrition.
- (Delhi) IPA(key): /kɔː.ɽiː koː t̪əŋɡ/, [kɔː.ɽiː‿koː‿t̪ɐ̃ŋɡ]
कौड़ी को तंग • (kauṛī ko taṅg)
- (idiomatic) steeped in poverty, destitute
- Synonyms: ग़रीब (ġarīb), दरिद्र (daridra)
- Hardev Bahri (1959) Hindi Semantics[1], Bharati Press Publications, page 251