చెంబు కంచం పోతే, ముఖంమీద కొట్టినట్లు ముంతా మూకుడూ తెచ్చుకోలేనా

This proverb describes a situation where someone puts in an excessive, disproportionate, or messy amount of effort for a very small or short-lived occasion. It is often used to mock someone who over-prepares or over-decorates to the point of looking ridiculous for a minor event.

This proverb highlights the traditional value of having a daughter in the household. It suggests that once a daughter grows up enough to help with chores, she will take care of her parents' needs so diligently that they won't even have to get off their bed to be fed. It reflects the affectionate and caring nature attributed to daughters in Indian culture.

This expression is used to describe a relationship between people (often relatives or friends) who are close enough to eat together or share a meal, but are not close enough to share a household, intimate secrets, or a marital bond. It highlights the boundaries of social intimacy and the distinction between formal friendship and private life.

This expression is used to show defiance, resilience, or self-sufficiency in the face of loss or insult. It implies that if one loses expensive or sophisticated things (represented by the brass vessel and plate), they can still survive and maintain their dignity using simpler, humbler alternatives (the clay pot and lid) just to prove a point to those who look down on them.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's own actions or attempts to solve a problem backfire, causing them self-inflicted harm or trouble. It is similar to the English idiom 'to dig one's own grave' or 'to shoot oneself in the foot'.

* Plega l'albero quando à giovane. † Gammel Green bryder nær den skal boles. Le fou cherche son malheur.

This expression describes a relationship where people are close enough to eat together or share social meals, but do not share a deep, private, or familial intimacy. It is often used to define the boundaries of a friendship or a formal association where one's private life remains separate.

This expression is used when a positive or beneficial outcome arises from an otherwise negative or unpleasant experience. It describes finding a silver lining in a bad situation, even if the method of achieving it was harsh.

This expression is used to describe something that lacks structure, logic, or clarity. It refers to a situation or a story that is incoherent and makes no sense, much like a body without a head/tail or a face without features.

A story without a head. (Greek.)*

This proverb highlights the essential nature of a mother's care and rain for survival and growth. Just as a crop cannot flourish or survive without rain, a child suffers and cannot thrive without the nurturing presence and affection of a mother. It is used to describe situations of extreme deprivation or the lack of a fundamental life-sustaining element.

This expression is used to describe a complete stranger or someone with whom one has no prior acquaintance or connection. It is often used when emphasizing that a person is totally anonymous or unknown to a particular circle or individual.