ఊరివరకు వచ్చి ఊరి గవిని ముందు పరుగెత్తినట్లు

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone, in an attempt to escape a small or manageable problem, ends up in a much more dangerous or severe predicament. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'out of the frying pan and into the fire'.

This proverb is used to describe a person who approaches someone for help or with a specific purpose but hesitates to speak their mind or hides their true intentions due to shyness, false pride, or unnecessary secrecy. It highlights the irony of wanting something while being too secretive to ask for it.

This proverb highlights the immense value and comfort of a simple, wholesome meal like dal-rice (pappannam). It is used to describe how someone is willing to go to great lengths or travel long distances for something they truly cherish or find satisfying, often used in the context of food or simple pleasures.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone approaches another person for help or a favor but is too hesitant, shy, or secretive to state their actual need. It highlights the irony of intending to ask for something while concealing the very tool or reason needed to receive it.

Poverty and pride.

This satirical proverb describes someone who is extremely inefficient or slow despite having plenty of time. Even though she started her chores at dawn (when the crow caws), she managed to cook poorly and was still rushing frantically to serve the meal by sunset (when the cattle return). It is used to mock people who waste time and create unnecessary chaos at the last minute.

This proverb is used to describe an extremely lazy, sluggish, or unresponsive person. Just as a heavy rainfall cannot move a massive, stationary hill, no amount of motivation, pressure, or change in circumstances can make a fundamentally idle person act or change their ways.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person in extreme danger or emergency does not care about superstitions, omens, or minor obstacles. 'Vaarashoola' refers to an astrological belief that traveling in certain directions on certain days is unlucky. The saying suggests that when survival is at stake, such trivial rules are ignored.

This proverb highlights two extremes where a person loses their rational thinking or common sense: when facing imminent death (due to fear and panic) and when overwhelmed by lust or infatuation. It is used to describe situations where a person acts irrationally under the influence of extreme fear or intense desire.

This proverb is used to mock those who lack courage or honor. It implies that a person who flees from their responsibilities or a battlefield out of fear is too preoccupied with their own safety to care about dignity, relationships, or the well-being of their loved ones.

This expression describes a situation where a person who is already working hard or performing well is given even more work or pressure, while those who are idle are ignored. It is used to highlight the tendency to overburden the efficient.