కుక్క సంతకుపోయినట్లు

This proverb is used to describe a situation where an unqualified person tries to fix something they don't understand, or when someone uses a deceptive or useless method to solve a problem. It implies that the intervention is both unnecessary and likely motivated by trickery, as a fox cannot truly 'fix' a dog's nature.

This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to show off or maintain a high social status they cannot afford, and in the process of pretending, they lose the basic necessities they already had. It serves as a warning against vanity and prioritizing false prestige over practical reality.

This proverb refers to someone who unnecessarily goes to a place where they don't belong or are not needed, and as a result, ends up facing humiliation, trouble, or punishment. It is used to describe situations where meddling in others' affairs leads to negative consequences.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone goes out with the greedy intention of gaining something for free or through exploitation, but ends up losing even what they already possessed. It highlights the irony of a person suffering a loss while trying to profit from others' misfortune.

This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to perform a shameful or clandestine act in a way that is highly visible and attracts everyone's attention. It refers to a situation where someone lacks the common sense to be discreet about their wrongdoings, making their actions impossible to ignore.

This proverb describes people who are so deeply involved or stuck in specific situations that they cannot be reached or distracted by anything else, even a family tragedy. It highlights the behavior of those who are either too focused on their addictions (toddy/palm wine) or too overwhelmed by their own personal disasters (house burning) to fulfill social or family obligations.

This proverb describes a situation where an unlucky person encounters a bad omen or an obstacle right at the start of an endeavor. It is used to mock the bad luck of a person who is already prone to misfortune; as soon as they set out to do something, they face a situation that suggests failure.

This expression is used to describe people who come up with many excuses, stories, or elaborate explanations to justify their actions or cover up their mistakes. Just as a fortune-teller (Gadde) has an endless supply of predictions and tales to tell a client, a person who is making excuses will always have another story ready.

This expression is used to describe a situation where one's efforts are wasted because they are directed at something that yields very little or nothing at all. Sama is a tiny grain, and 'pariga' refers to gleaning (picking up leftover grains after harvest). Trying to glean such small grains is considered a futile and unrewarding task.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone encounters the very thing they were trying to avoid, or when an unexpected complication arises right when one attempts to start a task. It highlights the irony of bad timing or unavoidable obstacles.