పొదుగు లేని ఆవు పాలిస్తుంటే, నాలిక లేని పిల్లి నాకేసిందట

This proverb highlights the essential role of a mother in a child's life. Just as onions are considered a fundamental base that adds flavor and completeness to a dish, a mother's presence is vital for a child's well-being and upbringing. It is used to describe how a home or a child's life feels incomplete or lacks essential care without a mother.

This proverb is used to describe something that is meaningless, artificial, or lacks a foundation. Just as a flood cannot exist without rain and kissing has no purpose without a child (in a parental context), an action or situation without its core essence or cause is considered hollow or futile.

This expression refers to something that lacks its core essence or purpose. Just as a bell is useless if it cannot ring and a crop is worthless if it doesn't yield grain, any object or person that does not fulfill their fundamental function is considered ineffective or hollow. It is used to describe wasted effort or decorative things that have no practical value.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely generous and charitable. Just as a hand without a bone would be flexible and unable to close or withhold, it refers to someone who gives freely to others without hesitation or stinginess.

This expression emphasizes that social standing (lineage) and personal character are the primary criteria for trust and alliance in society. It is used to suggest that certain fundamental qualities are essential for someone to be considered worthy of respect or a significant responsibility like marriage.

This proverb is used ironically or sarcastically to describe a situation that is incomplete or lacks its fundamental purpose. Just as a woman cannot be a mother without children, a grand event like a wedding is rarely free of some level of worry or responsibility. It implies that certain roles or events naturally come with inherent burdens or characteristics, and without them, the situation is paradoxical or meaningless.

This expression is used to describe something that is completely incoherent, nonsensical, or lacks a proper structure. Just as a child without features is unrecognizable, a story without a beginning (head) or end (tail) makes no sense and is difficult to follow or believe.

This expression is used to describe something that lacks structure, logic, or clarity. It refers to a situation or a story that is incoherent and makes no sense, much like a body without a head/tail or a face without features.

A story without a head. (Greek.)*

This expression is used to describe something that is completely incoherent, nonsensical, or lacks a logical structure. Just as a child without features cannot be identified, a story without a 'head or tail' makes no sense and leads to no clear conclusion.

This proverb is used to describe a match between two people who are equally lacking or poorly suited in a similar way. It implies that a person gets a partner or an associate who is just as flawed or incomplete as they are, often used in a humorous or satirical context to describe mediocre pairings.