నువ్వులూ నూనె ఒకటి, నూనె గమళ్ళవాడే వేరు

This expression is used to indicate that the result or output is directly proportional to the investment, effort, or resources put in. It is often used to tell someone that they get what they pay for, or that rewards are commensurate with the work performed.

This expression is used to highlight that even after acquiring something or completing a major task, some final effort, maintenance, or 'greasing' (bribing or persuasion) is often necessary to make it functional or to get the desired result. It suggests that the initial purchase or action is not the end of the process.

This proverb is used to emphasize the distinction between a product and its creator, or the resource and the person who manages it. It suggests that while the essence of something (like the oil) remains the same, the individuals handling it (the oil-pressers) can have different characters, methods, or intentions.

This proverb highlights that if the flaw lies within our own resources or efforts, there is no point in blaming someone else for the poor outcome. It is used when a person tries to shift responsibility for their own failures onto others who are merely providing a service.

This expression is used to describe two people, things, or ideologies that are fundamentally incompatible or different in nature. It highlights that no matter how much effort is put in, some entities will never blend or get along together, similar to the English idiom 'like oil and water'.

This proverb is used to describe someone who becomes arrogant or careless immediately after getting their needs met or gaining a little comfort. It highlights the behavior of being ungrateful or inviting trouble right after enjoying a benefit.

This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to make a threat or a 'sacrifice' that they are physically incapable of doing anyway. Since a person with handicapped or paralyzed hands cannot pick up tiny sesame seeds to eat them, threatening to 'boycott' eating them is meaningless and laughable. It is used to mock someone making empty threats or pretending to abstain from something they can't have in the first place.

This expression is used to highlight that everything has its own specific way of working or required resources. Just as a lamp needs extracted oil to burn and cannot function with raw sesame seeds, certain tasks require specific tools, skills, or prerequisites rather than just the raw materials or incorrect substitutes.

This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a completely irrelevant or nonsensical answer to a simple, logical question. It is used to mock people who try to sound wise or deflect a question they don't understand by bringing up unrelated personal or family history.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the accompaniment or the preparation is far more expensive or superior than the main dish itself. It highlights a lack of proportion or an unnecessary extravagance on something of low value.