భంగు తిన్న కోతివలె

This proverb is used to describe a person who has experienced better opportunities, luxuries, or freedom elsewhere and is no longer willing to return to their previous, restricted, or mundane life. It highlights the difficulty of bringing someone back to a routine or humble state once they have tasted a superior or more enjoyable lifestyle.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person faces the same consequence or reputation regardless of the magnitude of their actions. It is often applied to bad habits or wrongdoings, implying that even a small mistake carries the same stigma or negative outcome as a larger one.

* El rio pasado, el santo olvido. † Passato il punto, gabbato il santo.

This expression uses onomatopoeia to highlight the difference in value, sound, and durability between objects or people. While a clay pot (cheap/fragile) makes a dull sound, a metal vessel (expensive/strong) makes a resonant, clear sound. It is used to compare the quality or character of two different things, suggesting that true value or merit makes its presence known clearly.

This proverb suggests that money or resources spent within the family or on its assets are never truly lost. Just as feeding the household's chickens eventually benefits the family (through eggs or meat), food eaten by the family members contributes to the strength and well-being of the household itself. It is used to justify internal expenses that might otherwise seem like a loss.

This proverb highlights that no matter how many skills one acquires or how educated one becomes, the ultimate goal of all work is to earn a livelihood and satisfy basic needs like food. It is used to emphasize that every profession, no matter how prestigious, is fundamentally a means to survive.

This proverb describes a fall from grace or a significant decline in one's standard of living. It suggests that someone who was once accustomed to a comfortable or luxurious life (symbolized by tasty tamarinds) finds it difficult or unbearable to settle for a life of extreme poverty or hardship (symbolized by eating dry wood/scraps).

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely restless, agitated, or reacting with sudden, frantic movement. It depicts a state of high distress or panicked jumping around, similar to how a monkey would behave if it accidentally stepped on fire.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stingy or protective of their wealth. It implies that the person is so miserly that even a slight accidental contact with them or their clothing is treated as a major loss or a demand for a fortune. It can also sarcastically describe someone who thinks too highly of their own value or status.

This proverb describes how people with bad habits or those who indulge in intoxicants often find a group of followers or sycophants who encourage them. It is used to highlight that a person's vices easily attract like-minded company or flatterers who join in for the sake of companionship or free benefits.

This expression is used to describe someone who is acting erratically, behaving in a confused or dizzy manner, or wandering around aimlessly without any sense of direction or purpose. It is often applied to people who are hyperactive or behaving strangely as if they are under an intoxication or high.