కరతాళాలు కొట్టరా కావేటి రంగా

This expression describes a situation where someone waits for a long time to act, or makes a great effort, only to make a critical mistake or perform the action at the wrong time/place. It is used to highlight a significant failure or a blunder after much anticipation or effort.

This proverb is used to describe how people show extreme enthusiasm or care for something new, often overdoing it in the beginning. It refers to a laundryman who, out of excitement for a new piece of cloth, scrubs it excessively to make it perfectly white, potentially wearing it out quickly. It highlights the temporary and excessive nature of initial excitement.

This expression is used to advise someone against trying to trick or outsmart the very person who taught them everything. It emphasizes that one should not use their cleverness or pranks on their elders or mentors, particularly their own mother, who knows them best.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being indiscriminately or heavily beaten, or more commonly, when a task is being done haphazardly by mixing everything together without individual distinction. It is often used humorously to describe chaotic situations or a 'free-for-all' scenario.

This expression describes a person who is never satisfied with what is readily available or provided to them. It refers to someone who ignores the good things they have right in front of them and remains greedy or distracted by the possibility of something else (the 'utti' or hanging basket where food was traditionally stored). It is used to mock chronic dissatisfaction or a wandering, greedy eye.

Uttara is a specific Vedic rain star (Nakshatra). This proverb is used in an agricultural context, suggesting that when the Uttara rain arrives, it is time to harvest and pack the produce in baskets. It signifies being ready to reap the rewards of one's hard work at the right moment.

This expression is a critique of modern literature or poetry, implying that contemporary works lack depth, intensity, or substance. Just as watered-down ink produces faint and weak writing, this suggests that the quality of creative output has become diluted or superficial compared to the robust works of the past.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone endures some hardship, insult, or mistreatment because they received a significant benefit or compensation in return. It highlights a trade-off where the material gain outweighs the temporary suffering or loss of dignity.

This proverb advises on how to choose service providers based on the nature of their work. A new washerman (Chakali) is preferred because he will be more diligent and wash clothes cleaner to prove his worth. Conversely, an old barber (Mangali) is preferred because his experienced hands are less likely to cause cuts and he understands the client's preferences better.

This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or misinterprets simple instructions in a literal or foolish way. In Telugu, 'mukku' can refer to both a human nose and the nozzle of an oil lamp. It highlights the absurdity of a person who performs the wrong action due to a lack of understanding or by taking a word too literally.