గంధం పొడిలో బూరగ పట్టినట్టు

Used to describe a situation that is logically impossible, highly improbable, or a baseless allegation. Just as lice cannot live on a head without hair, this expression mocks claims or events that lack any foundation or sense.

This expression is used to describe a situation where something loud, crude, or inappropriate ruins a delicate or refined atmosphere. It highlights the mismatch between something coarse (the loud noise of a trumpet) and something subtle and precious (fragrant sandalwood powder).

This expression is used to describe someone who goes to extremes or becomes obsessively persistent in whatever task they undertake. It can also refer to someone who consistently encounters bad luck or complications in every endeavor they start, as if it were cursed or jinxed.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone, while trying to escape or hide from a small problem or danger, ends up encountering a much bigger or more terrifying trouble. It is similar to the English expression 'out of the frying pan and into the fire.'

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone or something worthless or annoying intrudes upon something very precious or sacred. Sandalwood powder is highly valued and fragrant, while a bug (booraga) is undesirable and ruins its purity. It highlights the contrast between the sublime and the ridiculous, or the high-quality and the low-quality.

This expression is used to describe an absurd or mismatched combination where something very beautiful, expensive, or high-quality is wasted on or attached to something lowly, ugly, or insignificant. It highlights the incongruity and pointlessness of such an arrangement.

The grand appearance of a worthless person. A leaden sword in an ivory scabbard.

Literally referring to the Mimosa pudica plant, this expression is used to describe a person who is extremely sensitive, shy, or gets easily offended or hurt by even the slightest comment or touch.

This expression refers to a waste of resources or an effort that is misplaced and unappreciated. Sandalwood paste is expensive and fragrant, traditionally applied to humans or idols for elegance; applying it to rough, tall palm trees is useless as it serves no aesthetic or functional purpose for the tree and goes unnoticed.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes a completely illogical or physically impossible claim, and another person responds with an equally absurd or useless solution. It highlights foolishness, ignorance, or a lack of basic common sense in both the complaint and the remedy.

This expression is used to describe something that is completely impossible, highly improbable, or a miracle. A dry, dead wooden pestle (rokali) can never grow new leaves or buds; therefore, it refers to situations where a hopeless cause suddenly shows life or an impossible task is claimed to be achieved.