ప్రజ్ఞలేని శౌర్యం- పదునులేని ఖడ్గం

This proverb is used to describe people who lack actual skills or the ability to perform a task, but compensate for it by boasting, acting aggressive, or talking big. It is similar to the English expression 'Empty vessels make the most noise.'

This expression is used to describe a person who boasts or brags excessively about their courage and abilities but proves to be a coward or fails miserably when it comes to actual action. It originates from the Mahabharata, where Prince Uttara Kumara made grand claims of bravery before fleeing the battlefield upon seeing the Kuru army.

Uttara, the son of king Virâṭa, volunteered to attack the Kurus, but his courage failed him and he turned tail at the sight of the enemy ( see Virâṭaparva of the Mahâbhârata ). Bragging. Bombast.

This is a popular Telugu riddle (podiupu katha) used to describe a kite. The expression highlights something that flies in the sky like a bird but lacks wings, and moves like a shooting star or comet but lacks a fixed tail, relying instead on a string. In a metaphorical sense, it can describe someone who is trying to achieve something great while lacking the fundamental tools or autonomy required for it.

This proverb describes a situation where two people who are supposed to help each other are both equally incompetent, lazy, or incapable. It is often used to mock a partnership or a household where no work gets done because neither party has the strength or will to perform their duties.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the actual skill or ability to perform a task but compensates for it by making loud boasts, showing unnecessary anger, or acting aggressively. It is similar to the English saying 'Empty vessels make the most noise'.

This expression is used to describe something that is bland, incomplete, or lacking its essential flavor or excitement. Just as salt is vital for dal and pickle is the necessary accompaniment for fermented curd rice (saddi), a situation or a person's talk without substance is considered dull and unappealing.

This proverb describes a situation where someone is deeply affected, controlled, or punished by words, social pressure, or psychological influence rather than physical force. It is often used to refer to a verbal reprimand or a situation where a person is bound by their own sense of duty or obligation without any physical constraints.

A sudden and unaccountable calamity.

This expression refers to things that are incomplete or ineffective despite their inherent quality. Just as a mantra is considered spiritually powerless without the 'Om' sound, wisdom or talent is often seen as ineffective or useless in a social or professional context if the person possessing it lacks the authority or position to implement it.

This proverb highlights that certain professions or tasks require specific core skills to be effective. Just as a mathematical problem cannot be solved without multiplication (logic/process), a person in a social or persuasive role is ineffective without the art of speech (eloquence). It is used to describe situations where a fundamental element is missing, rendering the whole effort useless.

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.