గూట్లో దీపం, నోట్లో ముద్ద

This expression describes a state of basic contentment, security, and stability. Just as a lamp protected in a wall niche stays lit and food in the belly provides immediate satisfaction, it refers to having one's essential needs met—shelter and sustenance. It is often used to describe a simple, worry-free life or a situation where everything is in its proper, safe place.

This is a humorous and sarcastic expression used to describe a situation where someone tries to accomplish too many tasks or satisfy many people with an insignificantly small amount of resources. It highlights the impossibility of stretching a tiny resource (like a drop of oil) to cover multiple major needs, mocking poor planning or stinginess.

This expression describes a state of extreme poverty or a hand-to-mouth existence. It refers to someone who has just enough to satisfy their basic immediate needs—a single meal and a tiny lamp for light—but possesses no savings, security, or surplus for the future.

This expression is used to describe a situation where something small, insignificant, or inferior is compared to or placed in front of something vastly superior and brilliant. It highlights how the smaller object's light is completely overshadowed and made redundant by the larger one's brilliance.

This expression highlights the importance of a woman (wife/mother) in maintaining the harmony, prosperity, and happiness of a family. Just as a lamp dispels darkness, a virtuous woman is seen as the light that guides and sustains the household.

This expression refers to extreme domestic secrecy or a lack of communication between a couple. It describes a situation where both partners are keeping secrets from each other, making it impossible for either to speak freely or share the truth.

This expression is used to describe a state of extreme poverty or scarcity. It refers to a situation where despite the day having three natural meal times (morning, afternoon, and night), a person can only afford or find enough food to eat once.

This expression describes the seasonal transition in the Telugu states. It signifies that by the time of the Diwali festival, the winter season is just beginning to set in, and the cold is mild or minimal, metaphorically compared to the small heat or size of a lamp's flicker.

Even a small lamp can give a wide glow. Physical size does not always lead to insignificant actions. It is the largeness of purpose that makes the act big.

This proverb describes a situation where someone acts recklessly or fails to take basic precautions, and then expects a divine or miraculous intervention to save them. It is used to criticize people who do not take responsibility for their actions and instead leave everything to fate or luck.