ఓటికుండలో నీరు పోసినట్లు

This expression is used to describe pursuing something that is non-existent, illusory, or impossible to achieve. Just as one cannot find or fetch water from a mirage (optical illusion), it refers to wasted efforts on deceptive goals.

This proverb is an expression of faith and optimism. It suggests that the Creator who gave us life will surely provide the means for our survival. It is used to comfort someone facing hardships, implying that their basic needs will be met by a higher power or that the person responsible for a situation will eventually take care of its consequences.

This expression refers to a situation or resource that is constant and self-replenishing. Just as a field with a natural spring (oota) never runs dry, it describes someone with inexhaustible talent, wealth, or a continuous flow of ideas.

This expression is used to describe a situation where effort or resources are being completely wasted on something that cannot be salvaged or retained. It refers to a futile action where despite continuous input, there is no result or progress because the foundation is fundamentally flawed or broken.

This expression is used to describe an action that worsens an already volatile or tense situation. Just as ghee makes a fire blaze more intensely, this phrase refers to 'adding fuel to the fire'—making someone angrier or making a conflict more severe.

A fruitless effort is one that does not achieve what one sets out for.

This expression is used to describe a redundant or futile effort where one provides something to someone who already possesses it in abundance. It is similar to the English idiom 'carrying coals to Newcastle'.

This expression is used to illustrate that resources, secrets, or wealth cannot be preserved or accumulated if the container (or person) is fundamentally flawed or lacks integrity. Just as water leaks from a pot with holes, efforts spent on a person with bad habits or a system with deep flaws will always go to waste.

This is a popular Telugu proverb expressing faith in divine providence or nature. It suggests that the creator who gave life will also provide the means for survival. It is used to offer comfort or express optimism during difficult times, implying that one's basic needs will be taken care of by the same power that brought them into existence.

This expression is used to describe a situation where people or objects are constantly moving and never settling down in one place. Just as spindles (kadullu) are pointed and thin, they keep shifting and rolling when placed in a container, making it impossible to keep them steady or organized. It is often used to refer to hyperactive children or a restless group of people.