నాకు సొగసెందుకు, బాగుంటే సరి.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the effort or risk involved completely cancels out the reward or gain. It refers to cattle that swim across a dangerous river to reach fertile grazing land (Lanka islands), only to burn off all the calories they gained by swimming back, resulting in a zero net gain.

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 things or people of inherent quality. It implies that true beauty or excellence does not vanish easily due to temporary hardships or physical changes. Just as a naturally beautiful person retains their charm even after losing weight, high-quality items or virtuous people maintain their grace even in difficult times.

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 is used to describe a situation where someone overlooks a significant or grand event to focus on a trivial or minor detail. It highlights a person's narrow-mindedness or their tendency to prioritize small personal comforts over a larger success.

This proverb is used to highlight deceptive appearances or temporary states. It suggests that a mother-in-law appears quiet and gentle only when she is exhausted (otherwise she might be authoritative), and a new daughter-in-law appears virtuous only because she is in a new environment and hasn't shown her true colors yet. It warns not to judge a person's permanent nature based on fleeting circumstances.

This expression is used to describe something that looks extremely attractive or perfect on the outside but possesses a hidden, significant flaw or a repulsive defect that ruins its value.

This proverb is used to criticize actions that lead to temporary success followed by a much greater downfall. It advises against pursuing short-term gains or prideful actions that ultimately result in a significant loss or humiliation. It is similar to the idea of taking one step forward and two steps back.

This expression is used to describe temporary or illusory happiness. It suggests that certain joys or successes are transient and have no real-world value or permanence, similar to a dream that vanishes once you wake up.