కోర్టు చుట్టూ తిరిగి కొల్లబోయినట్లు

This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely lazy or lacks initiative. It refers to a person who, when given a large task (circling the village), performs the smallest, most effortless version of it (circling the grinding stone inside the house) and claims they are finished.

This proverb is used to question the nature of a relationship. It asks whether a person is a genuine blood relative (pegu chuttam) who cares out of love, or a 'fair-weather friend' (pettu chuttam) who is only around for financial gain, gifts, or personal benefit. It is often used when someone shows sudden interest in a person's life only when they become wealthy or influential.

A table friend is changeable. (French.)‡ * Vache de loin a lait asses. † Geluk en glas brekt even ras. ‡ Ami de table est variable.

This proverb describes a situation where excessive delay or focus on trivial preparations leads to a major disaster or missed opportunity. It is used to criticize people who are overly meticulous or slow when urgent action is required.

This proverb describes a situation where someone's extreme delay or procrastination due to unnecessary perfectionism leads to a major loss. It is used to mock people who waste time on trivialities or personal preparation while a crisis is unfolding or an opportunity is slipping away.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs a lengthy or elaborate process only to achieve a trivial, irrelevant, or disappointing result. It mocks the futility of hard work or ritualistic behavior that lacks a meaningful conclusion or fails to address the actual purpose.

This expression is used to describe a person who does not understand instructions properly or takes an unnecessarily long and round-about way to do a simple task. It highlights inefficiency or foolishness in following directions.

This proverb mocks extreme impatience or the expectation of immediate results for a long-term process. It describes a person who expects an instant reward the moment they start a task, failing to understand that certain goals require time, patience, and consistent effort.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes a long, complicated, or roundabout way to do something that could have been done very simply and directly. It highlights unnecessary complexity or lack of efficiency.

This proverb suggests that success begins at home. If a person cannot manage their own domestic affairs or earn the respect of their family, they are unlikely to succeed in public life or handle community matters effectively.

This proverb describes a person's tendency to return to old habits, familiar places, or routine ways of thinking, even when they are no longer beneficial or necessary. It emphasizes the power of long-standing habits and the difficulty of breaking free from one's past patterns.