వాడి తండ్రీ మా తండ్రీ సయాం మొగవాండ్లు.

This expression is used to highlight hereditary traits, behaviors, or similarities between a father and his son. It implies that the son is naturally expected to behave exactly like his father, whether in a positive sense (excellence, skill) or a negative one (stubbornness, bad habits).

Like father, like son. Such a father, such a son. (Portuguese.)* He is his father's son. (Latin.)†

This expression emphasizes the supreme importance of parents in one's life. It highlights that a mother provides spiritual and emotional guidance like a deity, while a father provides the material support and security necessary for life.

This proverb highlights a traditional ideal for a prosperous and stable family. It suggests that if the father takes care of agriculture (ensuring food security) and the son becomes a doctor (ensuring health and income), the family will always have 'koodu' (food/sustenance) right in the middle or in abundance. It is used to describe a perfectly balanced and self-sufficient household.

This expression is used to describe situations where someone takes undue advantage of a person's kindness, patience, or close relationship. It refers to a lack of respect or crossing boundaries simply because the other person is forgiving or authoritative yet gentle.

This proverb suggests that after a mother's passing, the father's attention and affection might diminish or shift, especially if he remarries, making him distant like a secondary relative rather than a primary nurturer. It highlights the unique, irreplaceable role of a mother in a child's upbringing.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person's misfortune or mistake is exacerbated by another's harsh or opportunistic actions. It suggests that instead of helping someone who is struggling or failing, a person might take an action that makes the situation worse, often under the guise of 'teaching a lesson' or simply out of cruelty.

This rhetorical question is used to imply that a son naturally inherits the qualities, character, or reputation of his father. It is typically used when someone displays a trait (either good or bad) that is very similar to their father's known behavior, essentially meaning 'Like father, like son'.

This expression suggests that idle behavior or laziness leads to negative thoughts and harmful actions. It is similar to the English proverb 'An idle brain is the devil's workshop,' implying that when someone is unproductive, they are more likely to engage in immoral or destructive behavior.

This is a blunt rhetorical question used to describe a situation where there is no clear ownership, responsibility, or origin. It is often applied to projects, tasks, or issues where no one is willing to take accountability or where the source is impossible to determine.

This proverb emphasizes the fundamental importance of parents in one's life. It suggests that a mother provides spiritual and emotional guidance like a deity, while a father provides the material security and resources necessary for a family's well-being. It is used to teach children to respect and value their parents' roles.