మంగలివాడి పెంట కుల్లగిస్తే, బొచ్చు బయట పడుతుంది

This proverb is used to describe a person who, despite their efforts or pretense of doing something important, always ends up involved in trivial, petty, or low-level matters. It suggests that a person's actions are limited by their nature or capacity, much like a hen that always searches for food in a pile of waste regardless of where it is.

This proverb describes a situation where someone intentionally initiates a conflict by being unnecessarily rude or provocative. It is used when a person deliberately uses offensive language to spark a fight, even when there is no prior reason for an argument.

This proverb signifies that if one's character, work, or product is of genuine and high quality, they do not need to worry about the criticism or the evaluation of others. Just as pure gold doesn't need to fear the goldsmith's test, an honest person doesn't need to fear scrutiny.

This proverb is used to indicate that certain things or people cannot be transformed into something valuable, no matter how much effort is put into changing them. Just as burning hair results in ash and a foul smell rather than useful charcoal, some base natures or useless materials cannot be turned into something productive.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs a grand or expensive action just for vanity or to show off, but instead of gaining prestige, they end up with a messy, troublesome, or useless result. It highlights the folly of prioritizing appearances over practical outcomes.

This proverb is used to describe someone who goes on a long, arduous journey or undertakes a significant task, only to return with something trivial, worthless, or useless. It highlights the irony of putting in great effort for a meaningless result.

Great labour and small results.

This expression refers to a person who starts many tasks simultaneously but finishes none of them efficiently, or someone who keeps people waiting by jumping from one job to another. It originates from the practice in Tirupati where barbers, dealing with huge crowds, would partially shave one person's head and move to the next to ensure no customer left their queue.

Has it all his own way. Pilgrims visiting the place have to get their heads shaved, and as one man has the entire monopoly he keeps them waiting for hours, taking payment in advance and shaving a little bit of one man's head and then a little bit of another, to prevent them from going away. Applied to a person selfishly taking work out of others' hands which he is unable to complete himself.

This proverb emphasizes the fundamental secrets of agriculture and animal husbandry. It means that a good harvest depends on the quality of fertilizer (manure), and good milk production depends on providing quality fodder (grass) to the livestock. It highlights that inputs determine the quality of outputs.

This proverb is used to mock someone who boasts about having great authority but possesses very little actual substance or wealth. It implies that despite the high position or show of power, the actual benefits or personal worth are meager and disproportionate.

This proverb signifies the unpredictable nature of fortune and time. It means that a wealthy person can become poor and a poor person can become wealthy; nothing in life is permanent. It is used to advise humility during success and hope during adversity.