పులి బక్కచిక్కితే, చారలు బక్కపడునా?

This proverb is used to point out the pettiness or hypocrisy of someone who claims to make a huge sacrifice or contribution but becomes stubborn or stingy over a trivial, insignificant detail at the very end. It suggests that once the major part of a task or gift is completed, holding back a small, low-value portion does not truly serve any purpose.

This proverb highlights how even the weak or cowardly take advantage of a powerful person when they are in a vulnerable, helpless, or weakened position. It is used to describe how circumstances can humiliate even the greatest of people.

This expression describes a state of financial mess or a precarious balance of debts. It is used when a person is caught in a cycle of borrowing from powerful lenders (Pathans, traditionally known as strict money lenders) while being unable to collect what is owed to them by those who have nothing (Fakirs or beggars). It signifies being stuck in a difficult situation where one's liabilities are urgent but one's assets are unrecoverable.

This expression describes a situation where a person's reputation or status depends entirely on whether their dishonest actions are discovered. It is used to point out hypocrisy or the fact that many people who appear respectable might actually be doing something wrong but simply haven't been caught yet.

This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to show off or maintain a false status beyond their means, only to suffer painful consequences. It is used to mock people who undergo physical or financial hardship just to keep up appearances or act boastful.

This proverb highlights the reciprocity and equality inherent in kinship and relationships, regardless of economic status. In Telugu culture, 'Bava' (brother-in-law) denotes a close relative. The saying suggests that blood relations or social bonds remain the same regardless of one person being rich (balisinavadu) and the other being poor (bakkavadu). It is used to emphasize that status shouldn't change how family members treat or address one another.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is already weak, vulnerable, or in a precarious position suffers a final blow or misfortune due to the actions of someone they trusted or relied upon. It highlights the irony of a fragile person being further harmed by a supposedly protective or close relation.

This expression is used to describe things or people of high quality that retain their value or essence even when they face hardship, poverty, or physical decline. Just as a naturally beautiful woman looks graceful even when she becomes thin, a truly valuable person or object doesn't lose its inherent worth due to temporary setbacks.

This proverb describes a person who is eager to claim their share or take their turn when benefits are distributed, but pretends to be weak, sickly, or incapable when it is time to do work or fulfill responsibilities. It is used to mock lazy or opportunistic individuals.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to weather patterns. 'Pondu Moola' refers to the North-East direction (Ishanya). It signifies that if lightning is seen in that specific direction, it predicts a severe drought. The drought will be so intense that farmers, unable to find fodder or water, will be forced to sell off even their weakest, scrawniest cattle for survival.