మొగుడు కొట్టినందుకు కాదు తోడికోడలు నవ్వినందుకు ఏడ్చిందట.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the effort put into a task is rendered useless by a subsequent mistake or hurdle. It highlights that the benefit gained from starting early or working hard was nullified because the person ended up going in the wrong direction or making a fundamental error, resulting in no net progress.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to hide their true intentions or feelings with a silly or weak excuse after being snubbed or rejected. It highlights awkward attempts to save face when one's presence or actions are questioned.

This proverb describes a situation where the effort put into a task is completely negated by the poor quality of the result, or where one trouble cancels out another with no net gain. It is used when a difficult process yields a disappointing or insignificant outcome, effectively meaning 'it was all for nothing' or 'the effort and the result are equally bad'.

This expression is used when the extra effort or advantage gained at the start of a task is completely negated by a subsequent mistake or misfortune. It implies that despite a good start, one is back to square one due to poor execution or bad luck.

This expression describes a situation where the effort put into a task is exactly equal to or barely covered by the meager reward received, resulting in no real gain or profit. It is used when someone works hard just to meet basic sustenance or when a transaction results in a zero-sum outcome with no benefit for the labor involved.

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is pretending to be sad or upset for a noble reason, while their true motive is hidden or entirely different. It highlights hypocrisy or deceptive behavior.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where an event happens in such a chaotic or crowded environment that it is impossible to pinpoint the culprit or find reliable witnesses. It suggests that in the middle of a massive commotion, individual actions often go unnoticed or unproven.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of treatment and happiness within a household and livelihood. It means that if a wife is unhappy or mistreated in a home, that family will face misfortune. Similarly, if a farmer ill-treats his oxen (making them suffer or 'cry'), his agriculture will not yield success. It is used to advise people to keep their family members happy and care for the animals/tools that provide their sustenance.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is less bothered by the primary hardship or problem itself, but is deeply hurt by the mockery or humiliation they face from peers or others as a result of it. It highlights how social stigma or being looked down upon by equals can be more painful than the actual misfortune.

This proverb describes a situation where the actual pain or loss caused by a primary event is less hurtful than the humiliation or mockery faced from peers or rivals during that event. It is used to highlight how social embarrassment or the gloating of others often stings more than the misfortune itself.