అల్లుడికి చేసిన పప్పు, అతిథికి కూడా పనికివచ్చినట్లు

This proverb is used to describe a situation where even the primary guest or the most important person is being neglected or lacks basic hospitality; therefore, those who came along with them should expect even less or nothing at all. It highlights total scarcity or a lack of proper treatment for everyone involved.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's good intentions or helpful actions result in a misunderstanding or negative consequences for them. It originates from the Panchatantra story where a pet mongoose saves a baby from a snake, but is killed by the mother who mistakenly thinks the mongoose harmed the child.

This proverb highlights the inevitability of certain outcomes. Just as a ram (often sacrificial) cannot escape its fate once it falls ill, or as one cannot avoid the comforts/fortunes destined for them, some situations are unavoidable and irreversible once they set in motion. It is used to describe certainties or fated events.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is being generous or charitable with someone else's resources or money rather than their own. It highlights the hypocrisy of taking credit for a sacrifice that doesn't actually cost the giver anything.

This proverb is used to describe something that is only useful for decorative or superficial purposes but lacks functional value. Just as lime/chalk powder looks like flour but cannot be eaten, some people or objects may look the part but fail in practical application.

This proverb highlights the guilt and shame associated with wrongdoing or being in debt. Just as a person who has committed a crime or mistake avoids eye contact out of guilt, a person who owes money feels a similar sense of inferiority or hesitation to face their creditor. It is used to describe the loss of confidence and social standing that comes with debt or moral failure.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes advantage of a specific occasion to sneak in their own petty or mischievous actions. It refers to a story where a mother-in-law, while performing a ritual to ward off the evil eye for her son-in-law, uses the proximity to secretly pinch him. It highlights behavior where a person performs a malicious act under the guise of doing something formal or necessary.

This expression is used when someone tries to perform a task that is not within their expertise or role, often resulting in failure or chaos. It highlights the importance of sticking to one's own responsibilities and strengths.

This proverb is used to mock someone who makes absurd or nonsensical comparisons, or someone who draws illogical conclusions from a simple fact. It highlights the foolishness of trying to establish unnecessary or impossible relationships between unrelated things.

This proverb describes natural or stereotypical desires associated with specific roles. It implies that everyone has their own particular weaknesses, yearnings, or expectations based on their position in life. It is often used to remark on how people are inherently drawn toward things that benefit them or things they are traditionally expected to favor.