కోడలికి కొడుకు ముద్దు, అత్తకి అల్లుడు ముద్దు

This expression is used to highlight hereditary traits, behaviors, or similarities between a father and his son. It implies that the son is naturally expected to behave exactly like his father, whether in a positive sense (excellence, skill) or a negative one (stubbornness, bad habits).

Like father, like son. Such a father, such a son. (Portuguese.)* He is his father's son. (Latin.)†

This proverb highlights the human tendency to cherish secondary outcomes or subsequent generations more than the original source. Just as a moneylender might value the accumulating interest over the original capital, grandparents often feel a deeper, more indulgent affection for their grandchildren than they did for their own children.

This proverb describes how people find value and companionship in lesser things when the most desired or ideal thing is missing. In a house without children, a cow calf is treated with love like a child. In a house with no assets or livestock at all, even a buffalo calf is considered a great treasure. It is used to highlight how one's circumstances define the value of what they possess.

This proverb is used to express that people always find their own possessions, family members, or creations to be the best and most beautiful, regardless of their objective quality. It is similar to the English expression 'Every potter praises his own pot' or 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who is supposed to be subordinate or younger ends up dominating or controlling the person who should be in charge. It highlights an ironic reversal of roles or a situation where someone finds a match for their stubbornness or authority.

The suggestion is that for the parents the ugly child is not ugly but very lovable. It is the unbounded love of parents for their offspring that is highlighted here.

When a person is suffering, the other person is pleased. It shows the extreme inhumanness of certain people. Even if one cannot help others in their difficulties, at least they should not derive pleasure out of them. (If in the interrogative mudda, it signifies that one doesn’t care for another’s pain. Even that attitude is undesirable.)

This expression is used to question whether someone values the end result and productivity (pani) or if they are more concerned with the effort and hardship (paatu) involved. It is often used to remind someone that the outcome is what matters most, or to ask if they are willing to endure the struggle to get the reward.

This proverb reflects a common human bias and double standard within families. It highlights how parents often overlook their own child's faults (viewing them with affection) while being overly critical, dismissive, or insensitive toward their daughter-in-law's efforts and intelligence.

This proverb describes how different beings have their own peculiar, and sometimes grotesque, obsessions or preferences. It is used to highlight that what seems repulsive to others might be highly valued or obsessively nurtured by someone else due to their inherent nature or habit. It often refers to people who find pleasure in negative things or those who keep picking at their own problems/flaws.