వేళ్ళతో వెంపలి, కాయలతో కానుక

This proverb is used to describe a person who is so lazy and averse to hard work that they prefer to take the shortcut of joining criminals rather than putting in manual effort. It highlights how laziness can lead a person toward a path of dishonesty or crime.

This expression describes a person who is hypocritical or double-dealing. It refers to someone who pretends to be a friend to both sides of a conflict, or someone who tries to support opposing interests simultaneously for their own benefit.

This proverb is used to warn against taking undue advantage of someone's kindness or a good situation. It implies that even if something is beneficial or a person is generous, there should be a limit to how much you exploit it. Overusing or overstepping boundaries will eventually lead to negative consequences.

Said of a greedy, grasping person. Milk the cow, but don't pull off the udder. (Dutch.) Give him an inch and he'll take an ell. Give a clown your finger and he will take your whole hand.

This proverb advises against being overly greedy or taking undue advantage of someone's kindness or a good situation. Just as pulling a sugarcane plant out by its roots destroys the source of future sweetness, exploiting a person or resource completely will eventually leave you with nothing. It emphasizes the importance of moderation and maintaining boundaries even when something is beneficial.

This proverb describes a situation where someone takes undue advantage of the praise or kindness shown to them. It refers to people who, when trusted or given freedom due to their 'good' reputation, end up causing damage or acting irresponsibly. It is used to caution against blind trust or to describe someone who lacks common sense despite being called 'good'.

This proverb emphasizes that it is very easy to start or create something (like a rumor, a conflict, or a plant), but extremely difficult to undo or destroy the consequences later. It highlights the importance of being mindful before initiating an action, as the effort required to fix a mistake is much greater than the effort it took to make it.

This proverb highlights the benefits of organic farming, specifically the use of 'Vempali' (Tephrosia purpurea) as green manure. It suggests that natural fertilization leads to the best crop growth. Metaphorically, it can mean that things built on a strong, natural foundation yield the best results.

This proverb highlights the futility and danger of two specific actions: engaging in heated arguments with wise or powerful elders (which leads to trouble) and attempting to befriend the dead (which is impossible or morbid). It is used to advise someone to respect social hierarchies and focus on the living and the practical.

This proverb describes greed or over-exploitation. It is used to caution someone who, out of liking or benefit, tries to consume or exhaust a resource completely without leaving anything for sustenance or the future, eventually ruining the source itself.

This proverb warns against the futility and disrespect of engaging in constant arguments with elders or ancestors. It suggests that such conflicts are destructive, lead to bad reputation, and result in mental unrest since elders possess more experience and ancestors represent one's roots.