ఉత్తమమైన ఇల్లాలు ఊరేగి వెళితే, ఉత్తరేణి కాలి ఊళ్ళన్నీ కాలిపోయినవట

This proverb is used to describe a situation where even the strongest or most powerful entities are suffering or failing, making the concerns or complaints of the weak or fragile seem insignificant or inevitable. It highlights a scale of disaster where if the indestructible is perishing, the destruction of the delicate is a foregone conclusion.

This proverb is used to describe an act of being cautious or taking measures when it is already too late. It highlights the pointlessness of guarding an empty container or vessel after the valuable contents have already been stolen or lost. It is similar to the English expression 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.'

This is a sarcastic or ironic proverb used to describe people who commit a blunder or cause harm due to their own arrogance or stubbornness, and then try to frame it as a righteous act or a mere accident. It highlights the absurdity of offering a 'virtuous' excuse for a clearly disrespectful or harmful action.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely manipulative, inconsistent, or shifty in their speech. It refers to someone who changes their story or logic constantly to suit their convenience, making it impossible to pin them down to a single fact or commitment.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of intelligence and resourcefulness (upayamu) in society. It suggests that a person who lacks the wit to solve problems or contribute effectively is a burden to the community, highlighting that brains are often more valued than brawn or mere presence.

This expression describes a person who is never satisfied with what is readily available or provided to them. It refers to someone who ignores the good things they have right in front of them and remains greedy or distracted by the possibility of something else (the 'utti' or hanging basket where food was traditionally stored). It is used to mock chronic dissatisfaction or a wandering, greedy eye.

This proverb highlights the social reality that people flock towards those who are rich or successful. It suggests that when a person has wealth, even strangers or distant acquaintances try to claim a relationship with them, whereas a poor person is often ignored by their own kin.

This expression refers to a person who is extremely stubborn, obstinate, or unresponsive to advice and logic. Just as a partially burnt, thick log of wood is difficult to handle and neither fully burns away nor remains useful, this phrase describes a person whose behavior is difficult to change or manage.

This proverb highlights the importance of social status and economic convenience. It suggests that to live comfortably and successfully in a community, one should either possess political/social power (authority) or own fertile land close to the village (utility/wealth) to ensure easy management and prosperity.

This proverb suggests that bad intentions or curses directed at others often come back to haunt the person who uttered them. It is similar to the English expression 'curses like chickens come home to roost.' It is used to caution people against wishing ill upon others, implying that the negative energy will eventually return to the sender.