నీ దున్నడంలో ఏముంది, ఉండేదంతా నా చల్లడంలో ఉంది

This expression refers to poor planning or performing tasks at the most inconvenient and difficult times. Spinning cotton (ekulu vadakadam) is better done when there is humidity (monsoon) to prevent the fiber from breaking, while pounding rice (vadlu danchadam) requires dry weather. Doing them in reverse leads to unnecessary hardship and inefficiency.

This proverb is used to say that a person's true skill, expertise, or character can be judged at the very beginning of a task. Just as the way a devotee handles the sacred white clay (Thirumani) reveals their level of devotion and practice, a professional's competence is visible in their initial steps or preparation.

This proverb describes the nature of heat and fire across seasons. In winter, fire feels small and gentle like an infant because we seek its warmth, but in summer, even a little heat feels overwhelming and powerful like a grown man, making it difficult to bear.

This proverb is used to describe an elderly person who is nearing the end of their life. It signifies that they have reached a stage where society (the village) no longer has a place for them, and death (the graveyard) is imminent. It can also be used to mock someone who is very old but still behaves with youthful greed or attachment.

This proverb emphasizes the critical importance of timing and punctuality. It suggests that certain tasks must be performed during their designated time to be successful. Even if one is unable to do it physically, the intent and preparation should be there, highlighting that missing a seasonal opportunity leads to failure.

This is a humorous and culturally specific saying related to the Sankranti festival. Kanuma is the third day of the festival when people traditionally consume non-vegetarian food. The saying jokingly implies that eating meat (and having the bone make a sound on the plate) on this specific day is a sacred or virtuous act, equivalent to a pilgrimage to Kashi.

This expression is used to describe chasing an unattainable illusion or wasting effort on something that is not real. It signifies the folly of being attracted to a mere shadow or reflection rather than the actual object.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a problem or an ailment has ostensibly 'healed' or been resolved, yet the remaining mark, consequence, or side-effect is still massive and problematic. It highlights cases where the solution hasn't truly diminished the overall burden or visibility of the issue.

This expression is used when two different actions lead to the same ultimate outcome—in this case, death. It suggests that once the final result is the same (usually a negative or extreme one), the specific method or degree of the action becomes irrelevant. It is often used to question the logic of making minor distinctions between equally disastrous or final situations.

This proverb is used to describe things that look attractive or attainable but are actually illusory or impossible to reach. It signifies that some things can only be seen or imagined but never truly possessed, much like a reflection in a mirror.