చెంబు కంచం పోతే, ముఖం మీద కొట్టినట్టు ముంతా మూకుడు తెచ్చుకోలేనా?

This is a satirical expression used to humble someone who has high ambitions or desires something grand despite lacking the basic qualifications, status, or preparation. It compares a person with an unwashed face wanting to participate in or lead the 'Garuda Seva' (a grand, sacred procession in Hindu temples).

This proverb is used to convey that it is impossible to stop people from gossiping or talking about others. No matter what you do, someone will always have something to say, so it is better to ignore the critics and move on with your work.

This proverb is used to express resilience or defiance in the face of loss. It suggests that even if one loses their valuable possessions, they can still manage to acquire basic alternatives to maintain their self-respect and carry on, often used to tell critics that one is not completely helpless.

This expression is used to describe the union or cooperation of two equally incompetent, useless, or disreputable people. It suggests that when two people with similar flaws join forces, the outcome is likely to be unproductive or messy, as neither can help the other improve.

Burglars disguise their faces, and lepers oil their sores. Birds of a feather flock together.

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 is a sarcastic expression used to describe a person who appears calm, innocent, or polite on the outside (face), but possesses a mischievous, restless, or troublesome nature internally. It highlights the hypocrisy or hidden behavioral issues of an individual who looks decent but constantly looks for trouble.

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 expression is used when two people with similar bad habits, flaws, or negative reputations join forces or become friends. It implies that their association will likely lead to even more trouble or messiness, similar to how soot and oil together create a persistent stain. It is often used to describe a partnership of incompetent or mischievous individuals.

This expression is used to describe something that lacks structure, logic, or a clear purpose. It refers to a situation, story, or task that is disorganized, incoherent, and makes no sense from the start to the end.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone voluntarily invites trouble or creates a headache for themselves by their own actions or choices. It is similar to the English expression 'to go looking for trouble' or 'asking for it.'

* Alterâ manu scabunt, altera ferunt.