ముష్టిలో ముష్టి, ధర్మముష్టి

This expression is used to describe a person who has excessive or grand requirements for a very small or humble task. It highlights the irony of someone who, despite being in a position of seeking help or doing something minor, demands or carries more tools than necessary.

This proverb describes a person who is excessively lazy or dependent. It refers to someone who waits for someone else's arrival or help to perform even a basic task or to seek their own livelihood, showing a lack of initiative and a tendency to procrastinate.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is overwhelmed by too many superiors, advisors, or authorities. When there are too many people giving orders or interference from many sides (metaphorically 300 mother-in-laws), the person at the bottom (the daughter-in-law) is reduced to a state of helplessness or poverty of spirit, unable to satisfy anyone.

This proverb suggests that it is difficult to find respect, recognition, or even basic sustenance in one's home territory or among people who know you too well. Familiarity can lead to being taken for granted, making it necessary sometimes to travel elsewhere to find success or appreciation.

This expression refers to a person who, despite being in a position of need or seeking a favor, behaves with excessive pride, arrogance, or bossiness. It describes the irony of someone asking for help (alms) while maintaining an attitude of superiority or coercion.

This expression refers to the interconnectedness of prosperity at home and physical health. It suggests that when a household is well-provisioned and abundant (nutritious food, wealth, peace), the individuals living there will naturally be healthy and robust. It is used to emphasize that one's physical well-being is often a reflection of their domestic stability.

This expression is a play on words using 'Mushti' (which can mean both 'a fist' and 'begging/alms'). It highlights the ironic situation where someone who is already poor or a beggar themselves tries to help another beggar. It is used to describe an act of charity performed by those who have very little to give, emphasizing that even the smallest act of kindness from the poor is significant.

This expression is used to describe a situation where the reward or payment is just as poor or mediocre as the work performed. It implies that neither the service nor the compensation was of high quality, often used when one person's low-quality effort meets another's stingy response.

* Un mal chiama l'otro,

This proverb highlights the difference between physical needs and social security. While animals thrive purely on food, a human's well-being and status in society are determined by their wealth, assets, or family support. It is used to emphasize that material or social security is as vital for humans as nutrition is for animals.

This proverb is used to describe someone who is receiving something for free or through charity, yet complains about the quality or quantity of what they received. It highlights the irony of a person in a dependent position showing ungratefulness or having unrealistic expectations.