Poverty

This expression refers to someone who lives on charity or free food (like temple prasad) but remains unreliable or ungrateful. It describes a situation where a person depends on others' mercy for survival but fails to earn their trust or maintain a steady life.

This proverb describes a situation where someone makes extravagant demands from a person who is already struggling with basic survival or poverty. It is used to highlight the absurdity of asking for luxuries or heavy contributions from those who cannot even afford their own basic necessities.

This proverb is used to describe a state of complete helplessness or extreme poverty where there is neither protection from the high-ups (the court/government) nor the most basic necessity (salt) for daily survival. It highlights a situation where both external support and internal resources are absent.

In Telugu culture, 'Chinnamma' (Lakshmi) represents prosperity and wealth, while 'Peddamma' (Alakshmi/Jyeshtha Devi) represents poverty and misfortune. This proverb means that when hard work, good fortune, or prosperity enters a home, poverty and misfortune automatically depart. It is used to describe a positive turning point in one's life or household.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone claims to have lost everything or is willing to give away everything, but sarcastically points out that even the smallest, most insignificant item (like a wooden peg on the wall) is being accounted for. It is often used to mock someone's pretend generosity or to highlight extreme poverty/loss where literally nothing remains.

This proverb describes a person who lacks basic necessities but indulges in unnecessary luxuries or shows off beyond their means. It is used to mock someone who maintains a false sense of status or vanity while suffering from extreme poverty or lacking essential resources.

This expression emphasizes the importance of basic necessities and proper preparation. Just as one cannot present themselves in society without proper clothing, one cannot serve or consume a meal on an empty banana leaf (plate). It is used to convey that certain things are incomplete or useless without their essential components.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks basic necessities but indulges in expensive or unnecessary luxuries. It highlights the irony of someone prioritizing vanity or status symbols over essential needs.

This expression describes a situation where someone who is already struggling for their basic livelihood or survival encounters a new, painful obstacle. It is used when an unfortunate person, who is working hard to make ends meet, faces an unexpected problem that hinders their ability to perform their primary task.

Refers to a person, who may not be earning anything, but his needs will be no less than any body else’s. One should learn to live within one’s means, even by limiting his basic needs.

This proverb is used to describe things or resources that disappear quickly or are consumed instantly due to the extreme poverty or greed of the recipient. Just as food doesn't last in a fly's tiny stomach or supplies don't remain in a destitute home, certain things are exhausted the moment they arrive.

This expression is used to describe a person who, despite being in a pitiable or destitute condition, demands excessive respect or luxuries. It mocks the irony of having 'high tastes' or 'big demands' when one doesn't even have basic necessities.

This proverb describes a person who has grand desires or high aspirations but lacks the basic resources or means to fulfill them. It specifically refers to someone who wants to lead a family life or have comforts while living in extreme poverty, where they don't even have a proper bed, only a simple mat.

This proverb describes a person who possesses nothing of value and is therefore immune to being robbed. It is used to highlight that when someone has nothing to lose, even the most skilled criminals or threats cannot harm them. It signifies the safety found in extreme simplicity or poverty.

This expression is used to describe someone who is constantly busy and working hard but without any financial gain or productive results. It highlights the irony of being extremely occupied while remaining poor or unsuccessful.

This proverb is used to criticize someone who tries to act wealthy or sophisticated (putting on airs) while living in extreme poverty or lacking basic necessities. It highlights the irony of pretentiousness when one's actual situation is humble.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone takes up a profession or a task not out of passion, but because they have no other options or means of livelihood. Historically, it reflects a time when teaching was considered a low-paying job of last resort for those with no other support. It is used to mock someone's lack of choice in their current occupation.

This proverb is used to describe an event or situation that goes completely unnoticed or unrecognized by society due to the lack of status or wealth of the person involved. It highlights how the joys or struggles of the underprivileged often remain invisible to the world.

This expression is often used as a lighthearted or humorous response when someone says they have no money. It refers to a play on the word 'Hasta', which is an astrological star but also means 'hand' in Sanskrit. The phrase implies that the hand is empty or that one has reached a state of financial 'emptiness' on a specific day.

This expression highlights the irony of human existence, where most of a person's life is spent working relentlessly just to fulfill basic survival needs like food, even though the human stomach is physically very small. It is used to describe the constant toil and struggle for basic sustenance or to comment on the exhausting nature of earning a living.