పాలు చిక్కనైతే వెన్న వెక్కసము

This agricultural proverb explains the trade-off in grain production. When plants are spaced out (sparse), each plant produces heavy, high-quality grain that fills storage pits (pāthallu). When the crop is dense, there is more vegetation leading to larger haystacks (vāmu), but the grain yield per plant might be less. It is used to suggest that quality or quantity can vary based on density and resource distribution.

This expression is used to describe a situation or an argument that is complicated and difficult to settle. It refers to a dilemma where one is unsure whether a dispute is manageable (caught) or completely out of control and slippery (not caught), highlighting a state of confusion or persistent trouble.

This expression describes a slow, tedious, or deliberate process of dismantling something or creating trouble. It specifically refers to the act of unraveling a rope bag (chikkani) strand by strand, implying a task that is done with calculated effort, often to cause subtle harm or to systematically strip away resources.

This expression describes a situation where a person's reputation or status depends entirely on whether their dishonest actions are discovered. It is used to point out hypocrisy or the fact that many people who appear respectable might actually be doing something wrong but simply haven't been caught yet.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is offended or hurt by a truth that is obvious to everyone else. It highlights the irony of a person reacting emotionally when their well-known flaws or characteristics are pointed out directly to them.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where fewer people sharing a limited resource results in a larger or better portion for each individual. It is often used in a sarcastic or cynical context to suggest that having fewer people around (or less competition) is beneficial for personal gain.

This expression emphasizes the importance of self-preservation and knowing when to retreat. It suggests that it is better to escape a bad situation even if it looks cowardly, rather than staying, getting trapped, and being humiliated or ruined. It is often used to justify leaving a losing battle or a toxic environment before things get worse.

This expression is used to describe things or people of high quality that retain their value or essence even when they face hardship, poverty, or physical decline. Just as a naturally beautiful woman looks graceful even when she becomes thin, a truly valuable person or object doesn't lose its inherent worth due to temporary setbacks.

This proverb describes a situation where one problem or misfortune is immediately followed by another, or where an unwelcome person follows another. It is often used to refer to a cycle of poverty, bad luck, or persistent troubles that refuse to leave. In Hindu mythology, Peddamma (Alakshmi) represents misfortune and Chinnamma follows her, symbolizing that when one hardship arrives, more are likely to follow.

This expression means that certain results are inevitable when the right conditions are met. Just as butter cannot resist heat, people or situations will react naturally and immediately to strong influence, pressure, or temptation without needing to be told.