కార్తె ముందర ఉరిమినా, కార్యము ముందర పదిరినా చెడుతుంది

This expression describes a situation where one is trapped between two difficult choices or obstacles, similar to the English phrase 'between a rock and a hard place'. It is used when every direction or option available leads to a problem or difficulty.

A precipice ahead, wolves behind. (Latin.)† To be between the horns of a dilemma.

This phrase is typically used to express a sense of urgency or priority in following someone's lead or instructions. It can also imply being proactive or staying ahead of someone in a competitive or social context. In some dialects, it may refer to the necessity of preceding someone during a ritual or formal procession.

This proverb highlights certainty and inevitability. It refers to the Uttara rain/monsoon season, where it is believed that if it thunders, rain is guaranteed to fall. Similarly, it suggests that certain consequences or natural events are irreversible and bound to happen once initiated.

This is a traditional Telugu proverb used to describe things or people that lose their value, utility, or charm once they pass their prime. Just as an overripe okra becomes too fibrous to cook, certain roles or states of being become problematic or ineffective if they persist too long beyond their ideal time.

This expression is used to describe a situation of extreme confusion, circular logic, or a 'chicken and egg' dilemma. It refers to the irony that a blacksmith needs a hammer to make pincers, but needs pincers to hold the metal to make a hammer. It is often used to mock someone who is confused about the order of operations or stuck in a paradox.

This proverb highlights that productivity and willingness to work depend on favorable conditions. It suggests that when the environment is convenient, the resources are nutritious, the supervision is empathetic, the tools are efficient, and there is financial security, even an exhausted worker (symbolized by the ox) finds the motivation to do extra work.

This is an agricultural and traditional proverb. It implies that certain natural events are inevitable. When thunder occurs during the Uttara Karti (a specific solar mansion in the Hindu calendar), heavy rainfall is guaranteed. Similarly, if a cobra is provoked and chases someone, it will surely bite. It is used to describe situations that are certain to happen or consequences that cannot be avoided.

This expression is used to warn someone that the worst is yet to come or that a much larger problem is waiting in the future. It suggests that current difficulties are minor compared to the major ordeal approaching.

* Peu de levain aigrit grand'pâte. † A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi.

This expression is used to mock someone who is boasting about their wealth or importance when their actual situation is very humble or poor. It highlights the irony of someone making grand claims while having only basic sustenance (rice water) before them.

This proverb highlights absolute certainty and the irreversible nature of specific events. It refers to the 'Uttara Karthe' (a period in the lunar calendar) where rains are traditionally believed to be guaranteed and heavy. Just as a bite from a snake chasing its prey is fatal and inevitable, the effects of certain actions or natural phenomena are final and cannot be undone or avoided.