అబద్ధమాడితే అన్నం పుట్టదు, నిజం చెబితే నీళ్లు పుట్టవు

This proverb suggests that if one must lie, the lie should be consistent, firm, and believable, much like a well-constructed wall. It is used to point out that a person's deception is poorly structured or easily seen through due to inconsistencies.

This expression suggests that confessing one's mistakes or sins relieves the burden of guilt and leads to forgiveness. It is used to encourage honesty and transparency after making a mistake, implying that keeping a secret only worsens the moral weight of the action.

This proverb is used to describe how telling the truth often causes offense or makes people unhappy. It suggests that while honesty is a virtue, it can lead to friction or bitterness in relationships because people often prefer hearing pleasant lies over harsh realities.

Truth is bitter food. (Danish.)*

This proverb describes a moral dilemma or a 'no-win' situation. It suggests that lying leads to a lack of sustenance or prosperity (guilt/consequences), while telling the harsh truth might lead to social isolation or lack of even basic support. It is used to describe situations where both honesty and dishonesty carry difficult consequences.

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 expression is used to describe a situation where telling the truth makes others angry or offended. It suggests that people often prefer hearing pleasant lies over harsh realities, and the person who dares to be honest is frequently viewed as unkind or becomes the target of blame.

This proverb suggests that in a world full of deceit, being brutally honest may lead to social isolation or lack of support from the community. It is used to describe situations where a person faces difficulties or rejection for being truthful when others prefer comfortable lies.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gives a completely irrelevant, evasive, or nonsensical answer to avoid telling the truth or to dodge a direct question. It highlights the absurdity of the excuse provided.

This expression is used to describe a lie that is told so convincingly and perfectly that it becomes indistinguishable from the truth, or effectively 'pins' the truth down so it cannot surface. It refers to the craftiness of a well-constructed falsehood.

This proverb highlights the historical and cultural importance of lime (chunam) in rural India, where it was traditionally consumed with betel leaves after a meal. It implies that if a village is so impoverished or lacks basic amenities that even simple lime (for betel nut) is unavailable, it is unlikely that one can find a proper meal there. It is used to describe a place of extreme scarcity or poverty.