కూడు వండని ఆడది, మంచం అల్లని మగవాడూ ఉండరు

This proverb highlights certain basic or inherent traits attributed to genders in traditional society. It implies that everyone possesses some fundamental skills or natural inclinations—suggesting that cooking simple staples is a basic skill for women and humming or showing interest in music/art is a basic trait in men. It is often used to describe common human nature or universal behaviors.

Kuḍumu is a common kind of cake. Applied to things which are very common.

This expression is used to describe individuals who lack the basic, essential skills expected of them in a traditional household. It highlights incompetence in fundamental duties: a man failing at manual labor/repairs and a woman failing at core domestic tasks.

This is a popular Telugu proverb emphasizing the power and life-giving nature of the first monsoon rains (Arudra Karti). It is not meant to be taken literally, but rather to highlight the immense strength, energy, and fertility the season brings to the earth and living beings. It signifies that even the most delicate can gain immense strength during this auspicious period.

This expression describes a relationship where people are close enough to eat together or share social meals, but do not share a deep, private, or familial intimacy. It is often used to define the boundaries of a friendship or a formal association where one's private life remains separate.

This traditional proverb highlights gender-based social roles of the past. It suggests that a woman who constantly roams outside her home loses her reputation or neglects her household, whereas a man who stays idle at home and does not venture out to work or explore the world fails to provide and remains ignorant. It is used to emphasize the importance of balance and fulfilling one's responsibilities.

This proverb highlights universal human behaviors or tendencies. It suggests that certain actions are so common and natural to specific roles or genders that it is nearly impossible to find someone who hasn't done them. It is often used to point out that everyone has certain basic habits or shared experiences.

This traditional proverb suggests that a woman's reputation or household suffers if she wanders aimlessly outside, while a man fails in life if he stays idle at home without going out to seek opportunities, work, or social connections. It emphasizes gender-specific social roles common in historical contexts.

This proverb highlights the lack of basic essential skills expected of individuals in traditional roles. It describes a situation where people are incompetent in their fundamental duties, leading to an unproductive or dysfunctional household.

This proverb highlights the importance of both genders in maintaining a balanced household. It implies that a home without a woman's presence feels wild and disorganized like a forest, while a home without a man feels lonely or austere like a monastery. It emphasizes domestic completeness through partnership.

This expression is used to describe an extreme state of corruption where nothing moves or functions without a bribe. It satirically suggests that even a basic or inanimate object requires a payoff to perform its duty.