ఒక పుట్టలో పెడితే వెయ్యి పుట్టల్లో వెళ్లకొచ్చేవాడు

This expression is used to convey that one cannot judge or predict someone's potential, true nature, or hidden talents based on their appearance or background. It is also used as a warning that danger or unexpected outcomes can arise from seemingly ordinary places or people.

This proverb is based on the traditional Indian habit of chewing betel leaves (paan), which requires slaked lime (sunnam). Traditionally, lime production was a sign of a prosperous or active settlement. Metaphorically, it implies that if basic social or infrastructural necessities are missing in a place, one cannot expect to find sustenance or a livelihood there. It highlights that certain conditions must be met for a community to thrive.

This proverb is used to express that one cannot judge a person or a situation by outward appearances. It implies that hidden potential, danger, or greatness can exist in unexpected places, and therefore, one should treat everyone or every opportunity with respect and caution.

This proverb highlights the importance of basic resources and prerequisites. If a village lacks essential raw materials or the base for prosperity (like oil or ghee), it is unlikely to provide a full, comfortable meal or a livelihood. It is used to describe situations where one cannot expect a significant outcome when the fundamental necessities are missing.

This expression is used to describe someone who has become quiet, submissive, or suppressed, especially after being very aggressive or defiant previously. Just as a snake becomes still and contained when trapped in a charmer's basket, it refers to a person losing their sting or being forced into obedience.

This proverb is used when someone tries to be evasive or shy about their real intention even after approaching someone for help. It suggests that if you have already come to ask for something, there is no point in being secretive or hesitant about it; you should be direct and transparent about your needs.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where an attempt to hide a secret or a mistake backfires, resulting in it becoming public knowledge. It highlights that hidden matters often find a way to leak out despite one's best efforts to contain them.

This proverb highlights the historical and cultural importance of lime (chunam) in rural India, where it was traditionally consumed with betel leaves after a meal. It implies that if a village is so impoverished or lacks basic amenities that even simple lime (for betel nut) is unavailable, it is unlikely that one can find a proper meal there. It is used to describe a place of extreme scarcity or poverty.

This proverb describes a gradual but certain downfall or the loss of one's livelihood and stability. It illustrates a step-by-step decline in prosperity where a person's situation goes from bad to worse, eventually ending in total ruin or nothingness (ashes). It is used to caution against mismanagement or to describe the unfortunate decay of a family's wealth.

This expression is used to describe a person who is feeling trapped, suppressed, or constrained by their circumstances. It signifies a state of being confined in a small space or situation where one lacks freedom of movement or action, yet remains potentially dangerous or restless.