ఇంటి ఎద్దుకు బాడుగ ఏమిటి?

This proverb is used to describe how long-term habits or specific training cannot be changed instantly. Just as an ox trained to walk in circles for an oil mill cannot immediately adapt to the linear, strenuous work of ploughing a field, a person accustomed to one way of life or job cannot suddenly switch to a completely different skill set or environment without proper transition and time.

This proverb is used to describe an inexperienced or ignorant person who makes arbitrary decisions based on superficial appearances rather than actual value or logic. It highlights the foolishness of assigning tasks to someone who lacks the necessary expertise, as their judgment will be baseless and likely incorrect.

This proverb describes people with a narrow or limited perspective who believe their small environment is the entire world. The frog thinks the well is the whole universe, and the mill-ox, walking in circles, thinks its path is the only reality. It is used to describe lack of exposure or worldly knowledge.

This proverb highlights that certain roles are best suited for specific individuals or tools based on their inherent nature. In agricultural contexts, oxen are preferred for plowing over buffaloes due to their temperament and endurance. It implies that a mediocre version of the right fit is often better than a superior version of the wrong fit.

Quality of life is more important than quantity. It is better to live a short, meaningful, and independent life with dignity and freedom rather than a long, monotonous life of servitude and hard labor.

This proverb suggests that once a person crosses the boundaries of morality or ethics, they lose all sense of shame or restraint, and their further actions no longer hold any surprise or value. It is used to describe a state where a person has abandoned their principles and becomes indifferent to social consequences.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gains nothing from their efforts, and instead, even the existing essential resources or people are put in jeopardy or lost. It signifies a total loss or a counterproductive outcome where one ends up worse off than before.

This proverb is used to describe someone who is indifferent, insensitive, or shameless. Just as a blunt or hard stone (banda) doesn't care about the fine quality of flour being ground on it, an insensitive person is unaffected by criticism, refined thoughts, or the consequences of their actions. It is often used to remark on someone's lack of concern or intellectual depth in a specific situation.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person possesses resources or tools but lacks the ability or knowledge to use them effectively. Just as large eyes are useless if they cannot see, great assets are pointless if one lacks the wisdom to utilize them. It highlights that quality and functionality are more important than size or appearance.

This expression is used to describe a situation where people find excuses to delay a task by waiting for someone who is unnecessary or perpetually late. It highlights how work is often stalled or postponed using trivial pretexts, or it can refer to a person who is essential for a specific task despite their flaws.