తోటకూర వంటిది

This expression is used to mock someone who claims to be shy or modest but lacks true integrity. Just as amaranth wilts quickly and grows back easily, the person's 'shame' is considered superficial, temporary, or easily discarded when it suits their needs.

This proverb describes a person who boasts or maintains high appearances (symbolized by the slightly more 'sophisticated' Malabar spinach) despite their actual circumstances being humble or common (represented by the everyday Amaranth). It is used to mock people who act superior but live ordinary lives, or those who pretend to be picky about things they cannot afford.

This expression is used to describe the vigor and energy of youth. It implies that during one's prime age, even a tough or 'crunchy' meat like duck can be easily digested and enjoyed. It signifies that everything seems favorable and manageable when one is young and healthy.

This expression is used to describe a person who tries to offer a single, cheap, or insignificant item to fulfill multiple obligations or to please many people. It highlights stinginess or the act of making a small gesture seem like a grand contribution.

The Daśa Dânâlu ( ten gifts to Brahmans ) are as follows :— గోభూతిలహిరణ్యాజ్యవాసోధాన్యగుడానిచ। రౌప్యంలవణమిత్యేతేదశదానాఃప్రకీర్తితాః॥ A cow; land; sesamum seed; gold; ghee; cloth; grain; molasses; silver; and salt. Cheating the Brahmans.

This expression describes a hand-to-mouth existence or a struggle for basic survival. It implies that everything earned during the day is immediately spent on basic necessities like food (stomach) and clothing, leaving nothing for savings or future planning.

This proverb describes a person who is so overwhelmed by their own personal problems or immediate suffering that they remain indifferent to a larger disaster occurring around them. It is used to highlight situations where an individual's private misery makes them insensitive to external communal or public crises.

This proverb highlights the transient and fragile nature of happiness one experiences at their in-laws' house. Just as a blow to the funny bone (elbow) causes sharp, intense pain that subsides quickly, the comforts or joys found there are often perceived as temporary, superficial, or followed by sudden discomforts/realities. It is used to suggest that one should not get too comfortable or rely entirely on such hospitality.

This expression is used when someone goes to an extreme or unnecessary length to accomplish a very simple or minor task. It highlights a lack of proportion, suggesting that the effort or cost involved is far greater than what the situation actually requires.

This proverb emphasizes the deep emotional connection and debt of gratitude one owes to their birthplace or hometown. Just as a mother nurtures and protects her child, the place where one grows up provides sustenance, identity, and a sense of belonging. It is used to encourage patriotism, loyalty to one's roots, or to remind someone never to forget their origins.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is overly fastidious, delicate, or high-maintenance despite being in a state of extreme poverty. It highlights the irony and impracticality of having expensive tastes or a fragile temperament when one lacks the basic means to survive.