ఏనుగు పోయే దారి ఎటుగడు కానీ, దోమలు పోయే దారిలో తొంగున్నాడు.

This expression is used to describe a situation where initial efforts or pioneers face hardships and obstacles (thorns), while those who follow later enjoy the smooth benefits or easy results (butter). It highlights the disparity between the struggle of the leader and the ease of the successor.

When someone is truly hungry, they don't care about the taste or quality of the food; they just want to eat. Similarly, when someone is exhausted and needs sleep, they don't care about the comfort or luxury of the bed; they can sleep anywhere. This expression is used to highlight that basic survival needs override preferences or luxuries.

This proverb describes a situation where one person commits a mistake or minding their own business, but an innocent third party ends up facing the blame or consequences. It is used to highlight injustice or a mix-up where the wrong person is punished.

This expression describes a situation where a person loses their original possessions or status while unsuccessfully trying to gain something more. It is used to caution against excessive greed or poor decision-making that results in a total loss of both the old and the new.

Refers to a random passerby, a stranger, or someone who has no connection to the matter at hand. It is often used to describe someone who gets unnecessarily involved in a situation or when a person blames a random stranger for an incident.

This proverb describes how extreme circumstances change human behavior. A person who is starving or in desperate poverty loses their sense of shame because survival becomes their only priority. Conversely, a person who is blinded by wealth, power, or arrogance often ignores social boundaries, ethics, and family ties (kinship). It is used to comment on how desperation and vanity can both erode a person's character.

This expression is used to remind that imitation or having a single similar trait does not equate to having the actual stature, strength, or essence of another. It highlights that inherent nature and capability cannot be changed by superficial similarities or mere pretension.

This proverb lists things that are difficult to manage or recover once they have turned away. It implies that a mat that constantly rolls itself up is useless, a door that gets stuck closed is a hindrance, and a spouse who holds a long-term grudge makes domestic life unbearable. It is used to describe situations or behaviors that become stubbornly uncooperative or obstructive.

This expression means that constant practice, activity, or usage prevents stagnation or decay. Just as grass cannot grow on a busy trail, a skill that is regularly practiced will not be forgotten, and a house that is lived in will stay in good condition.

This proverb describes a person who fails to notice large, significant losses or obvious mistakes (represented by the pumpkin) but spends excessive effort worrying about or analyzing trivial, insignificant matters (represented by the mustard seed). It is equivalent to the English idiom 'Penny wise, pound foolish'.