ఊసరక్షేత్రంలో దూసరి తీగ

This proverb emphasizes the importance of context and suitability. Just as a farmer chooses seeds based on the quality of the soil to ensure a good harvest, one should evaluate the merit, character, and need of a person before offering help or charity to ensure it is used effectively.

Horse gram is known for its ability to grow even in poor, dry, and low-fertility soils. This proverb implies that if a land is so infertile that it cannot even support the growth of horse gram, it is completely useless or barren. It is used to describe something or someone that lacks even the most basic potential or capability.

This expression emphasizes that everything takes its own time to yield results. Just as a crop doesn't grow instantly after being fertilized, efforts require patience and time before one can see the benefits. It is used to advise someone against expecting immediate success or results right after starting a task.

This expression describes a futile or useless effort. Just as crops cannot grow in salty/barren soil and farming is impossible without a water source, starting a project without the necessary resources or foundation will lead to certain failure.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a completely useless or infertile endeavor unexpectedly yields a surprising result through superficial or minimal effort. It highlights the irony of getting a specific result from a place where nothing was expected to grow.

This proverb describes a person who behaves submissively or obediently toward family members (like a sister-in-law) but shows extreme stubbornness or resistance when it comes to work or external obligations. It is used to mock someone who puts on a show of being helpful while actually being uncooperative or rigid in their ways.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of worthiness and suitability. Just as a seed only thrives in the right soil, charity or help should only be given to those who are deserving and will make good use of it. It advises people to exercise discretion and perform due diligence before making commitments or investments.

This expression describes a situation where efforts are completely wasted. Just as plants cannot grow in saline/barren soil and farming is impossible without water, it refers to embarking on a project or investment that is destined to fail due to a lack of fundamental resources or a poor environment.

This proverb emphasizes that environment and upbringing (nurture) are often more influential than inherent traits or lineage (nature). Just as a good quality seed cannot flourish in barren soil, a talented person needs a supportive environment to succeed. It is used to highlight the importance of the surroundings in which someone grows or works.

This expression is used to describe something that grows or thrives uncontrollably once it starts. Both ivy gourd (donda) and adamant creeper (nalleru) are highly invasive and resilient plants that spread rapidly in their preferred soils. It is often used metaphorically to describe a situation, a habit, or a person's influence that takes deep root and expands quickly, making it difficult to contain or stop.