పాతముండలందరూ పోగై, కొత్తముండ తాడు తెంపినట్లు.

This proverb highlights double standards and hypocrisy in judgment. It describes a situation where the same mistake is viewed differently depending on who committed it. If someone in a superior position (like a mother-in-law) makes a mistake, it is dismissed as insignificant, but if a subordinate (like a daughter-in-law) makes the same mistake, it is exaggerated and treated as a major offense.

This proverb highlights human hypocrisy and double standards in judging mistakes. It describes a situation where people exaggerate the mistakes of others (the daughter-in-law's mistake is seen as destroying something brand new) while making excuses for their own or their favorites' mistakes (the mother-in-law's broken pot is dismissed as having been old and already broken). It is used to point out unfair bias and blame-shifting.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely clever, mischievous, or deceitful in a destructive way. It refers to someone who can simultaneously perform a restrictive action (like hobbling an animal) and a socially disruptive or cruel action (like breaking a widow's traditional bond). In modern usage, it often characterizes a person who is capable of doing anything, often implying they are a cunning troublemaker or a 'smart aleck' who creates chaos.

This is a sarcastic or cynical proverb used to suggest that a known relative (even one who might be difficult or considered unlucky like a widow in old social contexts) is more reliable or helpful in times of need than a stranger who is merely 'noble' or 'virtuous' in name. It emphasizes that family ties, however flawed, often provide more practical support than the abstract goodness of outsiders.

A bad bush is better than the open field. Better a lean jade than an empty halter.

This expression is used to describe a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma or a circular argument where it is impossible to determine which of two related things happened or existed first. It is often applied to situations involving infinite regress or complex causal loops.

This expression is used to describe a situation of extreme confusion, circular logic, or a 'chicken and egg' dilemma. It refers to the irony that a blacksmith needs a hammer to make pincers, but needs pincers to hold the metal to make a hammer. It is often used to mock someone who is confused about the order of operations or stuck in a paradox.

This proverb is used to describe people who show false bravery by attacking someone who is already defeated or in a weak position. It highlights that it takes no courage to strike an opponent who can no longer defend themselves, mocking those who boast about such easy victories.

This proverb describes a situation where an experienced person says something casually or out of habit, but an inexperienced or fearful person takes it too seriously and reacts with unnecessary panic. It highlights how fear and lack of experience can lead one to misinterpret a trivial situation as a major crisis.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one is caught up in trivial or logistical details (like the arrival of a transport palanquin) while overlooking the primary, essential event (the wedding timing itself). It refers to poor prioritization or unnecessary confusion regarding the order of events.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a group of people who are already in a miserable or failed state influence a newcomer to join their ranks or suffer the same fate. It highlights how people in bad circumstances sometimes collectively ensure that others don't fare better than them, or how bad company can quickly lead someone to ruin.