పోయిన నీళ్ళకు కట్ట కట్టినట్లు

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone wants to get rid of a person or end a situation but doesn't want to say it directly. Instead, they create uncomfortable conditions or make things difficult to force the person to leave on their own accord. It is synonymous with 'indirectly forcing someone out'.

This expression is used when someone is restricted or strictly monitored because of their past misbehavior or tendency to escape responsibilities. Just as heavy blocks (gudikattalu) prevent cattle from running away or jumping fences, this refers to imposing necessary constraints on a person who cannot be trusted to act disciplined on their own.

This expression describes an act that is counterproductive, harmful, or poorly timed. Just as dairy is traditionally avoided during a fever in Ayurveda and butter won't heal a deep head wound, it refers to actions that worsen a situation despite appearing like a gesture of care or help.

This proverb is used to illustrate that certain consequences are inevitable. Just as dry grass will surely catch fire if placed in a flame, a person cannot avoid trouble or corruption if they are constantly in a dangerous or unethical environment. It is often used as a warning about the influence of bad company or risky situations.

This expression describes a situation where someone brings along an unnecessary burden or a nuisance while trying to perform an important task. It refers to people who create their own obstacles or distractions that make a simple or celebratory event difficult for themselves and others.

This proverb is used to describe someone who unnecessarily interferes or creates obstacles in a task that is already completed or running smoothly. It highlights meddling behavior that disrupts harmony or progress.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being extremely foolish or setting themselves up for a loss. Placing butter on the head (which melts in the sun) and using prawns (which are scavenged by crows and dogs) as a waistband implies that the person's assets or efforts will quickly vanish or be snatched away due to poor planning.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is overly enthusiastic or eager to embrace new opportunities or changes, much like fish that instinctively swim against the current when fresh rainwater flows into a water body. It can also signify acting with sudden, renewed vigor.

This expression describes an impossible task or an exercise in futility. It is used to refer to situations where someone tries to control or manage something that is inherently uncontainable, fleeting, or impossible to hold onto, much like the physical impossibility of bundling water in a cloth.

This is a traditional agricultural/weather-related proverb. In certain regions, lightning in the western sky is considered a sign of an impending severe drought or lack of rain. It implies that if such a sign appears, even an animal like a pig, which loves water and mud, won't find any water to step into. It is used to describe signs of upcoming scarcity.