పినతండ్రి పెండ్లాము పినతల్లి కాదు, మేనమామ పెండ్లాము మేనత్త కాదు.

This proverb is used to highlight that biological relationships and marital relationships carry different emotional weights or social expectations. It suggests that someone who enters the family through marriage might not always share the same innate affection or bond as a blood relative, or it is used to specifically define traditional kinship roles in Telugu culture where specific terms are reserved for biological relations.

This proverb contrasts the different perspectives of love and dependency. A mother's love is selfless, worrying if her child has eaten enough (stomach), whereas a wife's perspective (historically in this context) might be focused on the provisions or earnings the husband brings home (the load on the back). It highlights the transition from being cared for to having responsibilities.

* 'Ακέφαλος μυθος. † II domandar costa poco.

This proverb is used to describe hereditary traits in children. It suggests that a child's physical appearance or temperament often mirrors their paternal aunt (menatta) or maternal uncle (menamama). It is frequently used by family members when noticing similarities between a newborn or child and their close relatives on both parental sides.

This proverb suggests that after a mother's passing, the father's attention and affection might diminish or shift, especially if he remarries, making him distant like a secondary relative rather than a primary nurturer. It highlights the unique, irreplaceable role of a mother in a child's upbringing.

This proverb is used to describe a person who prioritizes his wife and finds her sweet (like jaggery) while neglecting his mother or viewing her as a burden/troublemaker (like a ghost). It is typically used as a criticism of someone who forgets their filial duties after marriage.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks self-respect or has already lost their reputation and continues to act shamelessly without concern for social standing. It highlights a situation where someone, having already suffered a major embarrassment or failure, behaves as if nothing happened or tries to seek further social engagement despite their loss of dignity.

This proverb is used when someone tries to explain or describe something to a person who already knows it inside out. It highlights the irony of telling someone about their own roots, expertise, or a situation they are intimately familiar with.

This expression highlights the significance and priority given to the maternal uncle (mother's brother) in a child's life and within the family hierarchy. After the mother, the maternal uncle is traditionally considered the most important guardian and support system in many Telugu households, especially regarding cultural rituals and protection.

This expression describes a situation where someone tells a person something they already know very well, or tries to 'enlighten' someone on a topic they are an expert in. Since the uncle grew up in that very house, praising it to him is redundant and unnecessary.

This proverb refers to a redundant or unnecessary action. Since the maternal uncle (mother's brother) grew up in that same house, he knows its merits better than anyone else. It is used when someone tries to explain or brag about something to a person who is already an expert or possesses intimate knowledge of the subject.