పంటకు పెంటు, వంటకు మరటు

This expression means that when plants (or any tasks/resources) are overcrowded or excessive in number, they lack the space and nutrients to grow properly, eventually leading to failure. It is used to suggest that quantity does not guarantee quality or results, and that 'too much of a good thing' can be counterproductive.

This proverb is used to describe a person who, despite their efforts or pretense of doing something important, always ends up involved in trivial, petty, or low-level matters. It suggests that a person's actions are limited by their nature or capacity, much like a hen that always searches for food in a pile of waste regardless of where it is.

This proverb highlights the essential elements that enhance the beauty or value of something. Just as a well-styled hair-bun (koppu) completes a woman's appearance, appreciation and recognition (meppu) are the ultimate rewards and finishing touches for a poet's work.

This proverb highlights two perceived universal truths: that a mother-in-law is rarely seen as 'good' or appreciated by a daughter-in-law, just as a tamarind fruit is almost never considered truly 'raw' because of its inherent sourness and immediate utility. It is used to describe situations where a person's nature is fixed or where a certain relationship is traditionally difficult and unlikely to change.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to the lunar mansions (Nakshatras). It means that crops sown during the Hasta rain period result in a bountiful harvest, whereas crops sown by the time of Chitta rains provide just enough for a final meal, implying it is the very end of the sowing season and yields will be minimal.

This proverb emphasizes the permanence and impact of spoken words. Once someone says something hurtful or excessive (crossing the boundary of decency or patience), the damage is irreversible. It is used to advise people to think before they speak and to maintain self-control in conversation.

This proverb is used to describe a perfect match or a situation where things are suited to each other, often used in a sarcastic or humorous way to describe a couple or a pair of people who share the same (often negative) traits or habits. It implies that for every person or situation, there is a corresponding match that deserves them.

This is an agricultural proverb related to Telugu lunar mansions (Kartulu). It suggests that crops sown during the 'Hasta' rain yield best if they are early-season varieties, whereas crops sown during 'Chitta' rain are most successful if they are late-season or final harvests. It emphasizes the timing of agricultural activities based on seasonal rainfall.

This expression is used to describe opportunistic behavior. It refers to a person who changes their relationship or attitude towards someone based on the situation or their own convenience. In this context, calling someone 'maradalu' implies a more casual or lower-status relationship when things are difficult (ditch), while calling them 'vadina' implies a more respectful or distant relationship when things are better (mound). It characterizes a fair-weather friend or someone who is inconsistently respectful.

This expression is used to describe two people or things that are a perfect match for each other, often in a sarcastic or negative sense (like two equally lazy or cunning people). It is the Telugu equivalent of the English phrase 'Like father, like son' or 'A chip off the old block', implying that the quality or nature of one thing matches the other perfectly.

Like pot, like cover. (Dutch.)*