Food & Hunger

This traditional Telugu proverb emphasizes the dependency of agriculture on the 'Kartelu' (astrological seasonal periods that dictate rainfall). It means that if the rains do not arrive during their designated seasonal periods, it leads to crop failure and eventually famine. It is used to highlight the importance of timely natural cycles for survival.

This proverb emphasizes that food is a necessity for survival and should be consumed in moderation to maintain health. It warns against gluttony and making the pursuit of food or sensory pleasure the sole purpose of one's life. It is used to encourage disciplined eating habits and a focus on higher life goals.

This expression is used to describe someone who eats excessively or has an insatiable appetite. It compares the capacity of their stomach to that of a lake, implying it is unusually large or bottomless.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb. It means that if it rains during the 'Makha' Karti (a specific period in the lunar calendar), the water received in those five days is as beneficial and sufficient as five months of regular rainfall. It emphasizes the importance of timely rain for a good harvest.

This expression is used to advise someone to be thick-skinned or indifferent to verbal abuse or insults. It suggests that harsh words have no physical form and vanish into the air without causing harm, whereas food provides actual nourishment. It is often said to encourage someone not to take criticism to heart as long as their basic needs are met.

A mean sycophant.

This proverb highlights that basic survival and the struggle for sustenance are the most significant and constant burdens a person can face. It emphasizes that hunger or the lack of resources to eat outweighs all other worldly concerns.

This proverb suggests that even something wonderful or delicious can become tiresome or unpleasant if experienced in excess. It is used to describe the point of satiety or boredom when someone overindulges in a particular pleasure, luxury, or activity.

This expression refers to extreme poverty where a person has nothing to eat and is constantly hungry, leading to frequent yawning (a physical sign of exhaustion or an empty stomach). It is used to describe a state of utter destitution where physical weakness and hunger are the only things one 'possesses'.

This expression emphasizes the importance of hard work and action. It means that only when you put in the physical effort (moving your hands/forearm) will you get the momentum and results (the rest of the arm moving) needed to sustain yourself, typically referring to the act of working to earn a meal.

This is a popular Telugu proverb used to describe the lives of daily laborers and the poor. It means that one must work (hand/arm movement) every single day in order to have food to eat (stomach movement/digestion). It highlights a hand-to-mouth existence where there is no financial security without physical labor.

This proverb refers to the heavy and oily nature of the traditional sweet 'Arise'. It suggests that eating such rich food can trigger or reveal dormant health issues or digestive problems that haven't surfaced for a long time. It is used to caution someone about overindulgence or to describe how a specific action can have delayed but significant consequences.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is already indifferent or has renounced something cannot be threatened by the loss of it. If a person is unwilling to eat, the threat of starvation or a lack of food has no impact on them. It highlights that you cannot punish or coerce someone who doesn't value what you are trying to take away.

This proverb is based on the traditional Indian habit of chewing betel leaves (paan), which requires slaked lime (sunnam). Traditionally, lime production was a sign of a prosperous or active settlement. Metaphorically, it implies that if basic social or infrastructural necessities are missing in a place, one cannot expect to find sustenance or a livelihood there. It highlights that certain conditions must be met for a community to thrive.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one misfortune is followed by another, compounding an already difficult situation. It is similar to the English expression 'When it rains, it pours.'

This proverb highlights the immense value and versatility of milk provided by a cow. It implies that from a single source (milk), one can create a vast multitude of foods, sweets, and nutrients, emphasizing the cow's sacred and provider status in Indian culture.

This expression describes a situation where one is forced to seek a loan or credit during a time of extreme scarcity or crisis. It signifies an act of desperation or a burden upon an already struggling person, as borrowing during a famine is difficult to repay and even harder to obtain.

This proverb emphasizes the supreme importance of food and survival. It suggests that food is as vital as the heart to a body, and every single grain of rice is as precious as a close protector or relative (like a maternal uncle). It is used to teach gratitude for food and to discourage wasting even a single grain.

This proverb is used to highlight dependency on those who manage the household. It suggests that if the primary caretakers or those responsible for a task do not perform their duties, others will inevitably suffer or go hungry. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the role of family members who sustain the home.

This proverb is most commonly used in the context of food or charity. It suggests that keeping something (like excess food) until it spoils is a waste and a 'curse', whereas giving it to someone in need turns it into a 'blessing'. It encourages generosity and the timely sharing of resources.

This proverb is used to describe an extremely hungry person or a glutton who does not care about the hardships, insults, or physical pain they endure as long as they get a meal. It implies that for someone desperate for food, the satisfaction of eating outweighs any suffering or loss of dignity.