Selfishness

This proverb describes people who wish for others' misfortunes or specific chaotic situations for their own selfish gain. A cat might wish for darkness (blindness) to steal food unnoticed, while a dog might hope for more offspring to increase its pack or presence. It is used to critique those who have ulterior, often harmful, motives behind their desires.

This proverb highlights human nature's inherent bias and hypocrisy. People often justify or overlook their own faults and the misbehavior of their loved ones while being quick to judge or criticize the same actions in others. It is used to point out partiality and the lack of objective self-reflection.

This expression is used to describe an extremely stingy or miserly person. In olden days, slaked lime (sunnam) was used as a basic first-aid to stop bleeding from minor cuts. The saying implies the person is so greedy that they won't even provide a worthless bit of lime to help someone in pain.

A heartless man.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy or parasitic. It refers to someone who wants to eat without the effort of cooking and expects to be dressed up just to be served, essentially wanting all the benefits of life without doing any of the work.

This expression refers to a constant, self-inflicted danger or a situation where one harbors something extremely risky or harmful. It is often used to describe keeping an untrustworthy person close or maintaining a habit that will eventually lead to one's own destruction.

This proverb describes a situation where someone performs a self-destructive or ill-timed action just to ensure that their enemy or opponent suffers as well. It highlights a spiteful attitude where one is willing to endure negativity or bad luck as long as it negatively impacts their adversary more.

This proverb describes how jealousy blinds a person's judgment. When someone is envious of others' success or possessions, they tend to belittle those achievements or find faults where none exist in order to make themselves feel superior.

This expression is used to describe a person who is overly self-satisfied or takes immense pride in their own small achievements, often ignoring the bigger picture or failing to realize that their actions are self-serving and of little consequence to others.

This proverb describes a lazy or opportunistic person who avoids the hard work (plowing/sowing) but arrives promptly to claim the benefits or rewards (harvesting). It is used to criticize those who do not contribute to a task but expect a share in its success.

This proverb describes a situation where an elderly person becomes overly attached to or obsessed with someone or something unsuitable or inappropriate for their age. It is often used to criticize elderly men who pursue younger women, or more broadly, to point out the irony of developing new, intense cravings at a late stage in life when they should be focused on other matters.

This proverb describes a situation where a person, unable to vent their frustration or take revenge on their opponent, ends up causing harm or humiliation to themselves out of sheer spite or foolishness. It is used to mock self-destructive behavior driven by petty anger.

This proverb is used to describe a person who avoids hard work but puts a lot of effort into their appearance, fashion, or showing off. It suggests that those who are unproductive often focus excessively on superficial things.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person is in deep grief or facing a serious problem, while another person is only interested in their personal gain or profit from that situation. It highlights extreme selfishness and lack of empathy.

This expression describes a dog-in-the-manger situation where someone neither helps you themselves nor allows you to seek help or opportunities from other sources. It is used to criticize people who obstruct others' progress while providing no support of their own.

This proverb describes a person who is extremely lazy, homebound, or self-centered. It refers to someone who believes they don't need to travel for spiritual or worldly experiences because their entire world revolves around their own comfort, home, and food. It is often used to mock someone who prioritizes eating and staying home over any other duties or social obligations.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone destroys or wastes something extremely valuable for a trivial, minor, or short-term gain. It highlights extreme foolishness and lack of foresight.

This proverb describes a person who is single-mindedly focused on their selfish interests or gain, regardless of the situation. Just as a thief focuses only on the loot, a person with ulterior motives will only pay attention to what they can benefit from.

This expression refers to a 'truth' that is ambiguous, non-committal, or deceptive. It is used to describe a situation where someone gives a diplomatic or evasive answer that seems honest but hides the actual facts to avoid trouble or profit-seeking, much like the stereotypical cleverness attributed to traditional traders.

This expression refers to a situation where two parties are equally indifferent or have failed to fulfill their mutual obligations. It is often used to describe a relationship where neither person cares for the other, or to point out that since one person didn't perform a certain action, the other didn't react either.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone unnecessarily invites trouble or takes on a burden that was not meant for them. It refers to a person who, through their own voluntary actions or interference, brings a problem upon themselves when they could have simply stayed out of it.