గోరగా మిగిలినది జుట్టు

This proverb contrasts the outcomes of a legitimate trade versus gambling. While a business is conducted with the intent of earning a livelihood and profit, gambling inevitably leads to heated arguments, physical fights (grabbing hair), and ruin.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is overly optimistic about a future benefit while ignoring an immediate, life-threatening, or critical crisis. It originates from a story where a woman, seeing her husband on his deathbed, calculates that if he happens to survive, he will be strong enough to be a lover, instead of worrying about his survival first.

This proverb emphasizes how practice and habits reinforce a state. Just as constant practice makes a singer's voice more melodic, constantly dwelling on illness or complaining about pain can make one's health feel worse or cause the ailment to persist. It is used to highlight that persistent effort leads to mastery, while persistent negativity leads to decline.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone or something, instead of improving or maturing with age or progress, actually deteriorates or becomes ridiculous. It highlights a decline in quality, character, or status over time.

This expression describes an impossible or paradoxical situation where someone tries to achieve a large result with insufficient resources, or attempts to fit a whole into a tiny part. It is often used to criticize someone who is being extremely stingy or unrealistic about budgets and expectations.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to do something they are completely unprepared for, resulting in a total reliance on others for every single resource. Just as a monk (who has a shaved head) would need to borrow hair/a wig to look like a groom, some people try to execute projects with zero personal means.

This proverb emphasizes how repetition and practice lead to mastery in a skill, while persistent neglect or chronic health issues lead to downfall. Just as continuous writing turns one into a proficient scribe (Karanam), a persistent, untreated cough eventually results in death.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of completely finishing a task or treatment. Just as a small amount of leftover lime (used in betel leaves) can dry up and become useless, or a partially cured disease can relapse and become fatal, one should never leave problems or responsibilities half-done. It is used to advise someone to be thorough and ensure complete resolution of an issue.

This proverb highlights resilience and the power of survival. Just as 'Garika' (Bermuda grass) is incredibly difficult to eradicate because it can regrow from the tiniest piece of root, this expression is used to describe a person or a situation that shows strong persistence and recovers even after facing near-total destruction or severe setbacks.

This expression refers to a situation where someone is spared or survives a calamity while others perish, or more commonly, it describes a goat that is kept for breeding/milk rather than being slaughtered for meat. In a metaphorical sense, it signifies a survivor who carries the responsibility of nurturing or continuing a legacy.

* Der Eine schlägt den Nagel ein, der Andere hängt den Hut daran. 3 ( 17 )