ఉల్లిపాయల దొంగా అంటే, భుజాలు తడుముకున్నాడట.

This proverb describes a household where both parents are never home and neglect their domestic responsibilities. It is used to mock a family situation where the father is busy wandering elsewhere and the mother is busy roaming the neighborhood, leaving the home or children uncared for.

This proverb refers to a person with a guilty conscience. According to the legend, a thief who stole pumpkins believed a trick that pumpkin dust was still on his shoulders, and by touching them to check, he gave himself away. It is used when a person's defensive or nervous behavior inadvertently reveals their guilt.

This expression describes an impractical or ungrounded approach to a task. Just as martial arts (Saamu) cannot be performed without a firm footing on the ground, and a song loses its beauty without a rhythmic beat (Taalam), any endeavor that ignores basic fundamentals or reality is bound to fail. It is used to critique someone who ignores the basics or acts without a solid foundation.

This proverb is used to explain that quality and quantity are different things. It signifies that expensive or high-quality items (like pepper) are usually available in small quantities, whereas common items (like sorghum) are found in bulk. It is also used to suggest that even a great amount of effort or concentration cannot change the inherent nature or scale of something.

This is a humorous or satirical 'Sanskrit-style' verse (Sloka) in Telugu folklore used to mock superstitious beliefs or 'Muhurtas' (auspicious timings). It suggests that if a dog jumps over a wet (newly built) wall and then jumps back, the owners of the house will be ruined. In usage, it is often cited to poke fun at someone who invents or follows illogical and overly complex omens for trivial events.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone has exhausted all possible options or prayers to solve a problem, yet the situation has deteriorated or revealed its true, unpleasant nature. It highlights the irony of putting in immense effort or faith only to be met with a disappointing or absurd outcome.

This expression highlights that even the most powerful person can be defeated by a large group of small or seemingly weak individuals working together. It is often used to warn against overconfidence and to emphasize the power of unity and numbers over individual strength.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone has to put in an immense, exhausting amount of effort or struggle to complete a task. It is similar to the English idiom 'toil and moil' or 'with great difficulty'.

Usually a greedy person wishes to acquire all, but has limited ability to absorb. One should realize what one deserves before desiring it. This proverb is akin to the English expression 'bite off more than you can chew'.

This proverb describes a person with a guilty conscience. When a general accusation is made, a guilty person instinctively reacts or checks themselves, inadvertently revealing their culpability. It is similar to the English expression 'If the shoe fits, wear it' or 'A guilty conscience needs no accuser.'

Guilty conscience.