నరకలేని బంటుకు కత్తి చురుకు లేదన్నట్లు

This expression is used to describe a person who refuses to admit defeat or a mistake despite a clear failure. It portrays an arrogant attitude where someone tries to save face or maintain their pride with a flimsy excuse even when their failure is obvious to everyone.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone takes up a profession or a task not out of passion, but because they have no other options or means of livelihood. Historically, it reflects a time when teaching was considered a low-paying job of last resort for those with no other support. It is used to mock someone's lack of choice in their current occupation.

This proverb suggests that a person who lacks self-respect or a sense of honor is rarely disappointed or deceived because they do not have high standards or expectations to be betrayed. It is often used to criticize someone who lacks the courage to stand up for themselves, implying that while they might stay safe, they lack dignity.

This proverb highlights the importance of honor and dignity. Just as a mustache was traditionally seen as a symbol of authority for a king, self-respect (rosham) is essential for a soldier. If they lack these qualities, they have nothing left to lose because they have already lost their status and dignity in the eyes of society.

This is a popular Telugu riddle (podiupu katha) used to describe a kite. The expression highlights something that flies in the sky like a bird but lacks wings, and moves like a shooting star or comet but lacks a fixed tail, relying instead on a string. In a metaphorical sense, it can describe someone who is trying to achieve something great while lacking the fundamental tools or autonomy required for it.

This proverb is used to mock someone who has recently acquired wealth and is showing off excessively or behaving with newfound arrogance. It highlights how people who gain sudden status often make absurd, pretentious demands to flaunt their status, even when it is impractical or painful.

This proverb describes a situation where something cheap, ugly, or low-quality is decorated with something expensive and elegant. It is used to mock a mismatch in status or quality, often referring to an unattractive person wearing expensive jewelry or an unworthy person being given high honors.

This proverb highlights the importance of money for even the smallest tasks or necessities. It suggests that without financial resources, one's ability to act or progress in the world is severely limited, emphasizing that money is a fundamental requirement for basic transactions.

This proverb highlights the importance of companionship. Just as a top cannot be spun or controlled without a string, a person's life is seen as directionless, unstable, or incomplete without a life partner or soulmate to support and balance them.

This proverb describes a situation where someone is deeply affected, controlled, or punished by words, social pressure, or psychological influence rather than physical force. It is often used to refer to a verbal reprimand or a situation where a person is bound by their own sense of duty or obligation without any physical constraints.

A sudden and unaccountable calamity.