మూలుగులు ముందటివలెనే, తిండి యెప్పటివలెనే.

This expression is used to describe a person who claims full credit for an action or achievement, emphasizing their individual effort and prowess. It can also imply a sense of self-importance or boastfulness about one's own capabilities in completing a task from start to finish.

This expression is used to suggest that help or advantages received in the past do not guarantee future benefits. It emphasizes that every situation is unique and needs to be handled individually, often used when someone expects past favors to repeat themselves indefinitely.

Eaten bread is soon forgotten.

This expression is used to describe someone or something that stays in one place for a very long time or is constant and unchanging. Historically, oil-pressers (Telakula) sat on a heavy, fixed stone while operating the manual oil press; therefore, the phrase refers to an object or person that remains stuck or permanent in a specific position regardless of external changes.

This expression emphasizes the importance of gratitude and tradition. It suggests that eating without offering a small portion to God, ancestors, or nature (a practice known as 'dhara' or 'bali') is uncivilized or inauspicious. It is used to teach manners, spiritual mindfulness, and the value of sharing before consuming.

This traditional proverb emphasizes the cultural importance of hospitality and social structure. It suggests that a meal where one cannot ask for or receive a second serving (maaru) is considered poor or unfulfilling, while a meal eaten without a host or proper supervision (dora) is chaotic or unlucky, like food consumed by spirits.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of having a proper curry or accompaniment with a meal. In Telugu culture, eating plain rice without any flavor or side dish is considered poor etiquette or a sign of extreme misery, likened to how an animal might be fed.

This expression is used to describe someone who constantly complains about their health, problems, or poverty (the 'groans') while continuing to enjoy their comforts or luxuries (the 'meals') without any real change. It highlights hypocrisy or exaggeration in one's suffering.

This proverb describes a paradoxical or impossible desire, highlighting human selfishness or hypocrisy. Since a woman can only become a widow if her husband (the son) dies, wishing for both simultaneously is a logical contradiction. It is used to mock people who want all the benefits for themselves without accepting the necessary consequences, or those who harbor ill will that would ultimately hurt their own interests.

This proverb is used to convey that the quality or quantity of an outcome is directly proportional to the effort, investment, or resources put into it. It is similar to the English expression 'You get what you pay for.'

This proverb is used to describe a situation or a person that never changes despite the passage of time. It refers to people who are chronic complainers or situations where, no matter when you check in, the problems and grievances remain exactly the same as before.