నీటికి పాచి తెగులు, మాటకు మాట తెవులు, కులానికి కులం తెగులు

This expression emphasizes the importance of giving a fitting response or retaliation in kind. It suggests that one should be prepared to counter an action with an equal action or an argument with an equal argument, reflecting a sense of justice, tit-for-tat, or maintaining one's dignity in a conflict.

This proverb suggests that arguing or talking back incessantly ruins the quality of a conversation, much like how moss pollutes and spoils a body of water. It is used to advise against unnecessary arguments or being argumentative for the sake of it.

This expression refers to the tradition of offering food (Naivedyam) to a deity in a temple. While the God is said to accept the offering merely by looking at it, the humans (devotees or priests) are the ones who actually consume the food. It is used to describe situations where a formal or symbolic gesture is made to a higher authority, while the actual material benefits are enjoyed by the subordinates or common people.

This proverb highlights internal conflicts and self-destruction within a community. It means that the biggest threat or decay to a group usually comes from its own members, much like how moss originates from and eventually covers the water it grows in. It is used to describe situations where people harm their own kind.

This proverb highlights that one's problems or poverty cannot be solved if kept hidden; one must speak out, seek help, or engage with the world to find a solution. It is used to encourage transparency and seeking assistance when in distress.

This proverb describes a person who is so cruel or heartless that they have harmed their own closest kin. For such a person, harming others (like an aunt or distant relative) is a trivial matter. It is used to warn others about a person's character; if someone doesn't spare their own family, they certainly won't spare you.

This expression describes the act of exaggerating a story or fabricating unnecessary details to make a simple event sound more dramatic or believable. It is used when someone adds 'spices' or false information to a basic fact, making the narrative unrealistic or distorted.

This proverb highlights that constant arguing or talking back ruins the quality of a conversation, just as algae/moss spoils the purity of water. It suggests that excessive talkativeness or being argumentative is a negative trait that hinders meaningful communication.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone claims equality with another person or object based on a very superficial or irrelevant similarity, while ignoring the vast difference in status, function, or utility. It highlights a false or absurd comparison.

This proverb suggests that just as moss spoils the purity and clarity of water, an obsession with makeup, vanity, or external appearance can ruin the character or integrity of a person. It is used to caution against excessive materialism or preoccupation with looks.