ఏనుగు బళ్ళు ఏనుగుకు బరువు, చీమ బళ్ళు చీమకు బరువు

This proverb highlights that borrowing things (especially ornaments or jewelry) for the sake of showing off only brings anxiety and a sense of burden, as one is constantly worried about their safety and eventual return. It is used to advise people to live within their means and be content with what they own.

This proverb describes a paradoxical situation where a professional or skilled worker lacks the very thing they produce for others. It is used to highlight irony, such as a doctor who is always sick or a financial advisor who is broke.

This expression is used to describe an insignificant or negligible impact. It refers to a situation where a small addition or minor loss makes no difference to a person or an entity that is already vast, wealthy, or powerful.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone offers something insignificantly small or inadequate to someone with vast needs or great capacity. Just as an elephant requires a massive amount of food to be satisfied, showing it small teats (symbolizing a tiny portion) is useless and mocking.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy or useless. It implies that the person does no productive work, making the food they consume a waste and their presence on earth a literal weight without any contribution.

He is not worth his salt.

This proverb highlights the inherent resilience or nature of certain entities. A tree provides shade and fruit regardless of external conditions, and a savvy merchant (traditionally referred to as Komati) always finds a way to manage their trade or load without feeling the 'weight' or loss. It is used to describe situations where people are naturally equipped to handle specific hardships or roles.

This proverb highlights the stress and mental burden that debt causes. Even if one buys something on credit (loan) from a shop, the thought of repayment weighs heavily on the mind like a physical load. It is used to caution people against taking loans or buying things they cannot immediately afford.

This proverb suggests that everyone has their own set of problems and responsibilities proportional to their status or size. What may seem small to others can be a significant burden to the person experiencing it. It is used to remind people that we shouldn't dismiss others' struggles just because they seem minor compared to ours, as everyone carries their own weight.

This proverb highlights the stress and psychological weight of debt. Even if one can buy things on credit easily at a market, the obligation to repay it remains a constant mental burden. It is used to advise people against taking unnecessary loans or living beyond their means.

This expression describes a situation where one is forced to seek a loan or credit during a time of extreme scarcity or crisis. It signifies an act of desperation or a burden upon an already struggling person, as borrowing during a famine is difficult to repay and even harder to obtain.