తల్లిలేని పిల్ల దయ్యాల పాలు.

This expression describes a situation where all the hard work, discipline, or ritualistic effort put into a task goes to waste due to a small mistake or lack of focus. It is used when someone meticulously follows a process but fails at the final stage, rendering the entire effort useless.

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 expression is used to describe a situation where someone is obsessed or fixated on something irrelevant or unexpected, despite there being no logical connection or prior history. It often highlights how problems or infatuations can arise from unexpected quarters, regardless of one's status or background.

This proverb highlights the importance of charity and philanthropy in a community. It suggests that a town or village lacking generous people (donors) who contribute to the welfare of others becomes desolate, lifeless, and unpleasant, much like a haunted place.

This proverb describes a situation where an idle person engages in useless, absurd, or counterproductive activities just to keep themselves busy. It is used to mock someone who performs unnecessary tasks out of boredom or lack of real work.

A man pretending to be fully employed.

This proverb highlights how ill-managed or excessive wealth is often squandered on unproductive vanity projects (like grand stone monuments/forts) or hedonistic pleasures. It is used to caution against the misuse of resources and the inevitable waste that occurs when power and money are not directed toward the welfare of the people.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone unintentionally invites big trouble or awakens dormant problems while performing a simple or mundane task. It refers to creating a nuisance for oneself by interfering in matters that were better left alone.

This proverb describes a situation where both parents are constantly busy with outside work or social obligations, leaving no time for their own family or household. It is used to critique parents who neglect their responsibilities at home while being overly active in community affairs.

This proverb is used to describe something that is incomplete or lacks a fundamental ingredient. In Telugu cuisine and culture, onions are essential for taste in curries, and serving dal is a basic requirement for a wedding feast. It highlights that certain elements are indispensable for an experience or task to be satisfactory.

This expression emphasizes the importance of charity and philanthropy in a community. It suggests that a village or society lacking generous people (donors) who help others becomes lifeless, desolate, and undesirable, much like a place inhabited by ghosts.