పొట్టి వాడికి పుట్టెడు బుద్ధులు

This proverb describes a person's hypocrisy or fickle nature. It refers to someone who appears very pious and moral while listening to religious discourses or moral advice, but immediately reverts to their old, bad habits once they leave the environment. It is used to criticize those who do not practice what they hear or preach.

This proverb is used to suggest that what a person lacks in physical stature or height, they often make up for with extreme cleverness, wit, or cunningness. It implies that short people are exceptionally sharp-minded.

This proverb describes a situational irony where one person possesses the physical resources or tools but lacks the wisdom to use them, while another person has the knowledge but lacks the necessary resources. It is used to highlight the mismatch between ability and opportunity.

This is a traditional Telugu proverb used to suggest that women think differently or more deeply than men, often implying that they come up with clever solutions later or have a unique perspective that isn't immediately obvious. While historically sometimes used dismissively, it is also used to acknowledge a woman's intuitive or strategic thinking.

Lit. in the back of the head.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a deed with the intention of gaining religious merit (punyam), but the act inadvertently causes harm or results in a mess. It is often applied when an attempt to do good backfires or when a seemingly pious person's actions are actually riddled with flaws.

This is a popular Telugu saying used to suggest that what a person lacks in physical stature, they make up for with extreme cleverness, wit, or cunning. It is often used playfully or as a cautionary remark about not underestimating someone based on their small height.

This expression refers to someone who grew up without proper care, guidance, or parental supervision. It is often used to describe a person who has become wayward or unrefined due to a lack of structured upbringing and support.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person starts making poor decisions or thinking negatively when they are going through a bad phase or facing a downfall. It suggests that one's intellect often fails or misleads them when their fortune is at its lowest.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs a supposedly good deed or religious act, but the unintended negative consequences, sins, or flaws associated with it far outweigh the benefits. It highlights hypocrisy or the futility of an action that brings more harm than good.

This is a combination of two distinct expressions. The first part refers to a satirical observation that external order (like straight streets) does not guarantee internal integrity. The second part is a popular proverb used to describe a person whose innate talent or character is evident from childhood or from the very beginning of an endeavor.