అయితే ఆతుకూరు, లేకపోతే దాతుకూరు

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone settles for a substitute or an alternative when the original or preferred choice is unavailable. It highlights the human tendency to find a replacement, sometimes even an inappropriate or simplified one, just to fill a void.

This proverb describes something that is only valuable or functional as long as it is maintained or occupied. It is often used to refer to old houses, ancestral properties, or even human relationships, suggesting that once care or occupancy ceases, they quickly fall into decay and become worthless.

This is a sarcastic expression used to describe someone who, when they lack basic necessities, demands or expects high-end luxuries instead of seeking practical alternatives. It highlights the irony of having extravagant tastes or unrealistic expectations while being in a state of poverty or deprivation.

Said by an impertinent beggar when refused assistance by a stingy person.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely stubborn, rigid, or lives in extremes. It refers to someone who lacks flexibility and will only consider two specific, often distant or binary options, with no middle ground or compromise in between.

This expression highlights the vital importance of food security and agriculture. It signifies that even a single grain of rice represents sustenance, and without food (the means of survival), one's very existence is at risk. It is often used to emphasize the value of hard work, the importance of not wasting food, or the critical nature of one's livelihood.

This expression suggests that telling a lie requires weaving together multiple fabricated points to make it seem believable. It implies that lies are often inconsistent or fragile, much like a cloth made of many patches that might fall apart under scrutiny.

This expression describes the behavior of people who are inconsistent or opportunistic in their relationships. It refers to someone who treats you as a useful friend (small tool) when they need something, but acts sharp or hostile (sickle) when they don't, or someone whose stance changes drastically based on availability and convenience.

This expression refers to things that are valuable only as long as they are functional or maintained. It is often used to describe the fragility of human life or temporary possessions, implying that once the essence or life is gone, only a useless shell remains.

This proverb is often used in a reverse or comparative sense to highlight the permanence of certain damages. While modern variations sometimes swap the subjects, the traditional wisdom suggests that physical objects like a shattered clay pot are beyond repair, whereas human relationships and hearts (emotions) can potentially be healed through effort and time. It is used to emphasize caution in one's actions and words to avoid irreparable damage.

This expression describes a situation where an outcome results in one of two extremes—either total success or complete subservience/failure. It is used to describe a high-stakes scenario or a person who finds themselves in a position where they must either be the master of a situation or its humble servant, with no middle ground.