కుమ్మరి ఆవములో ఇత్తడి ముంత దొరుకునా?

This proverb is used to convey that you cannot expect something high-quality or fundamentally different from a source that is known for something else. Just as a potter's furnace only produces clay pots, one cannot expect valuable items (brass) from a place or person that doesn't possess them.

This expression is used to signify that windfalls, special treats, or exceptional circumstances do not happen every day. It reminds one that lucky breaks are rare and one must rely on regular effort rather than expecting extraordinary benefits to be constant.

This proverb is used to describe a futile search or an impossible expectation. Just as it is illogical to look for a metal (copper) pot in a place where only clay pots are made (potter's kiln), it is used when someone is looking for something in the wrong place or expecting a quality from someone who does not possess it.

This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely busy, constantly moving around, or deeply involved in hard labor, much like the tireless burrowing activity of a mole cricket (kummara purugu). It often refers to someone who is preoccupied with many tasks at once.

This expression is used to describe two people or things that are a perfect match for each other, especially in a sarcastic or negative sense. It implies that for every odd or flawed person, there is a similarly matched partner or counterpart. It is often used to describe couples who share the same eccentricities or negative traits, similar to the English idiom 'every pot has its lid.'

This expression is used to describe an action that causes total destruction or immense chaos. When a fever nut (which contains air/moisture) is thrown into a hot kiln, it explodes, potentially breaking all the unbaked clay pots inside. It refers to a small act that leads to a disproportionately large disaster.

This expression is used to convey that common things are easily found, but precious or rare things (like talent, true value, or high-quality items) require more effort or luck. It implies that one shouldn't expect extraordinary results or valuable outcomes just because they have access to something basic or common.

This proverb describes a person who remains unaffected or untainted despite being in a corrupt, messy, or negative environment. Just as a dung beetle or mole cricket lives in the mud/dirt but stays clean, it refers to an individual's integrity or detachment from worldly impurities.

This proverb emphasizes the interdependence of community members. It suggests that when the overall community or the people around us prosper, even the less fortunate or those at the bottom of the ladder will receive some benefit or basic sustenance. It is used to highlight that collective prosperity benefits everyone.

This expression refers to a small action that causes a disproportionately large amount of damage or chaos. A grey nicker bean (gachakaya) has a hard shell that explodes with a loud bang when heated; if thrown into a potter's kiln, it can cause all the delicate earthenware inside to crack or shatter. It is used to describe a person who enters a peaceful situation and creates total ruin with a single word or deed.