టెంకాయ చెట్టెందుకు ఎక్కినావురా అంటే దూడగడ్డి కోసమన్నాడట, గడ్డి చెట్టుపైన ఉంటుందా అంటే లేదు కాబట్టే దిగివస్తున్నానన్నాడట కాయల దొంగ.

This proverb highlights that mere formalities, rituals, or superficial measures cannot prevent someone with bad intentions from causing harm. It is used to point out that a person's character or a serious security threat won't be changed by symbolic gestures.

This expression is used to describe a person who inadvertently reveals their guilt through defensive or nervous behavior when a general accusation is made. It originates from a story where a thief, hearing a general shout about a pumpkin theft, checked his shoulders for traces of ash or marks, thereby identifying himself as the culprit. It is similar to the English idiom 'If the shoe fits, wear it' or 'A guilty conscience needs no accuser'.

A guilty conscience needs no accuser. He that has a muckle nose thinks ilka ane is speaking o't. (Scots.)

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is pretending to be sad or upset for a noble reason, while their true motive is hidden or entirely different. It highlights hypocrisy or deceptive behavior.

This proverb mocks people who have naive or blind faith in superficial rituals or symbols to prevent bad things from happening. It describes a situation where someone believes that a simple religious gesture (like tying a 'madigudda' or ritual cloth) will magically stop a criminal, ignoring the practical reality that a thief does not care about such things. It is used to highlight foolishness or misplaced confidence in symbolic protection.

This proverb is used to say that external appearances of piety or ritualistic symbols cannot prevent someone with bad intentions from doing harm. It highlights the futility of using religious or symbolic gestures to solve practical security problems or to change someone's inherent nature.

This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a completely illogical, irrelevant, or foolish excuse for their actions. It is used when someone is caught doing something suspicious or wrong and tries to justify it with an answer that makes no sense, as grass does not grow on top of coconut trees.

This expression means that the quality or nature of something is determined by its origin or source. It is often used to describe how children inherit traits from their parents or how the outcome of a task depends on the quality of the initial effort. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree'.

This expression is used to describe a person who is so consumed by their stubbornness or grief that they cannot recognize or appreciate a good offer even when it is presented to them. It highlights the irrationality of someone who refuses a benefit simply because of the way it was offered or because they are stuck in a contrary mood. The humor lies in the pun on 'Danimma' (Pomegranate) and 'Dani-Kaya' (Her fruit/Those fruits).

This proverb suggests that a person who commits a small crime or dishonesty is likely to commit a larger one given the opportunity. It emphasizes that a lack of integrity starts small but can escalate, and one's character is judged by even minor actions. It is used to warn people not to trust someone who has a history of even trivial dishonesty.

This proverb suggests that a person who commits a small crime or dishonesty will eventually move on to bigger ones. It is used to imply that character is defined by the act of stealing itself, not the value of the object stolen. If someone can justify small wrongdoings, they are capable of larger ones as well.