వానకు ముందు ఉరిమినా, మాటకు ముందు ఏడ్చినా తుదముట్టదు

This proverb describes people who are overly eager or arrive prematurely due to their specific needs or lack of social standing. Just as a vegetable seller arrives early at a market to secure a spot before others, a person who has been ostracized or lost status might rush to the front of a feast (pankti/row) to ensure they are served or acknowledged before being ignored.

This proverb warns about the potential trouble one might face in specific situations. Standing before an old creditor (to whom you owe money) will lead to awkward demands for repayment and harassment. Similarly, standing in front of a buffalo calf is dangerous as it might impulsively charge or butt you. It is used as a piece of advice to avoid unnecessary confrontations or risky positions.

In Telugu culture, sneezing is often considered an ill omen when starting a task. However, this specific proverb suggests that if someone sneezes from behind you as you are about to leave or start something, it is actually a positive sign or a good omen for the future success of that endeavor.

This proverb is used to warn someone against being short-sighted. It suggests that one should not get overly excited or distracted by temporary joys and transient pleasures, but instead focus on long-term consequences and future stability. It is often used to advise people who are wasting resources or time on fleeting things while ignoring their upcoming responsibilities.

This proverb advises caution and foresight in two different contexts. In the physical sense, one should check water/liquid before drinking to ensure it is clean. In the context of writing or documentation, one must 'look behind' or review what has been written to check for errors or unintended consequences before finalizing it.

This traditional proverb suggests being cautious of people whose emotions seem performative or calculated. It implies that excessive emotional displays—like a man using tears to gain sympathy or a woman using laughter to mask her true intentions—can be signs of deceit or manipulation. It is used to advise someone to look beyond superficial behaviors when judging character.

This proverb advises caution and strategic positioning. Walking in front of someone carrying hot water risks getting splashed if they trip. Walking behind someone carrying a heavy load (vetty) is dangerous because the load might fall backward or the person might suddenly drop it. It teaches one to stay alert to their surroundings and avoid positions where others' accidents can cause them harm.

This proverb is used to describe a transaction or a deal where one party receives credit, fame, or verbal praise while the other party receives the material profit or payment. It highlights a situation where one person gets the glory and the other gets the money.

This expression is used to describe a situation of extreme confusion, circular logic, or a 'chicken and egg' dilemma. It refers to the irony that a blacksmith needs a hammer to make pincers, but needs pincers to hold the metal to make a hammer. It is often used to mock someone who is confused about the order of operations or stuck in a paradox.

This proverb describes a situation where a child or a subordinate is always accompanying or preceding someone, much like Nandi (Basavanna) is always found before Shiva (Veeranna) and Ganesha is associated with Gauri. It is used to describe inseparable duos or when a junior member always tags along with a senior.