మూడు దుగ్గానులకు మూతి మీసం గొరిగించుకొన్నట్లు

In Telugu culture, a mustache is often seen as a symbol of pride, dignity, and masculinity. This proverb is used to criticize someone who lacks a sense of honor or fails to stand up for themselves despite their outward appearance of strength or maturity. It suggests that external symbols of dignity are useless if one does not possess the inner character or 'Rosham' (self-respect/righteous anger) to back it up.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes action first and then looks for the right time or rules to follow. It refers to an act of 'closing the stable door after the horse has bolted' or doing something in an illogical order. In traditional Indian culture, one usually checks for an auspicious day (Tithi/Nakshatram) before getting a haircut; doing so after the act is completed is futile and pointless.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes a drastic, irreversible, or disproportionately large step for a very temporary or minor benefit. It highlights lack of foresight and the foolishness of sacrificing something permanent for a fleeting moment.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the cost of maintaining or fixing something exceeds its actual value. It is similar to the English expression 'the remedy is worse than the disease' or 'throwing good money after bad', specifically focusing on disproportionate expenses incurred on an inexpensive object.

This expression refers to a job done very poorly, unevenly, or incompletely. It describes a situation where a task is performed haphazardly, leaving patches of unfinished work, much like an unskilled barber leaving patches of hair on a head.

The pilgrims who visit the sacred hill of Tirupati have to be shaved before entering the temple. The barbers in their greediness to secure customers are said to keep numbers round them half shaven, leaving off one to commence another. Dabbling in many things, but completing none.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a task or fulfills an obligation with great reluctance, lack of interest, or while complaining, rather than doing it willingly or happily. It implies that the person is doing something just for the sake of finishing it, often ruining the spirit of the activity.

This expression is used to describe a job that is done extremely poorly, clumsily, or incompletely. It refers to someone who lacks the necessary skill or patience, resulting in a 'patchy' or disastrous outcome, much like a barber who leaves tufts of hair everywhere.

This expression describes someone who makes a permanent or disproportionately large sacrifice for a very temporary or short-term benefit. It is used to caution against impulsive decisions where the loss outweighs the gain of a fleeting event.

This expression describes a cunning or deceitful person who spends a small amount of money or effort as a bait to swindle someone out of a massive fortune. It is used to warn others about manipulative individuals who use minor favors to gain trust before committing a major fraud.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to avoid a problem or a minor inconvenience, but in doing so, accidentally lands themselves in a bigger trouble or a different mess. It is similar to the English idiom 'Out of the frying pan and into the fire.'