వేలు చూపితే మురిగేది గుమ్మడి కాయ, తంతే పెరిగేది పుచ్చకాయ

This expression refers to a person or thing that is well-guarded, well-cared for, or treated with extreme caution and high regard. Historically, it stems from a story where a teacher's watermelon was protected so strictly that it became a symbol for something highly prioritized or carefully watched over.

This expression is used to describe a person who inadvertently reveals their guilt through defensive or nervous behavior when a general accusation is made. It originates from a story where a thief, hearing a general shout about a pumpkin theft, checked his shoulders for traces of ash or marks, thereby identifying himself as the culprit. It is similar to the English idiom 'If the shoe fits, wear it' or 'A guilty conscience needs no accuser'.

A guilty conscience needs no accuser. He that has a muckle nose thinks ilka ane is speaking o't. (Scots.)

This expression is used to describe a person who lives hand-to-mouth or leads a very simple, unorganized life without any savings or future planning. It refers to someone who buys rice daily from the shop and picks up wild twigs for fuel just before cooking, signifying a lack of domestic stability or foresight.

This proverb highlights that different people react differently to the same situation or criticism. While some take hardship or pressure as a challenge to grow stronger (like the watermelon vine), others are fragile and succumb to it (like the pumpkin). It is used to describe resilience versus fragility in character.

This proverb describes a person who buys something very small or cheap but expects a disproportionately large or valuable item for free (kosaru). It is used to mock someone's unreasonable greed or lack of proportion in dealings.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone demands or expects a free addition (bonus) that is far more valuable or larger than the actual item they paid for. It highlights greediness or unreasonable expectations in transactions.

This proverb is used to explain that some things cannot be rushed or forced. Just as a fruit must mature naturally to be sweet, certain results, skills, or changes in behavior require time and internal readiness rather than external pressure or force.

This traditional proverb highlights the contrasting nature of two professions: a merchant (Komati) who gives goods on credit and must constantly chase customers for payment, versus a goldsmith (Kamsali) who takes the material or advance and makes the customer return multiple times before the work is finished. It is used to describe situations involving debt recovery or delays in service.

This expression is used to describe an uneven or disproportionate exchange, or a situation where a lot of resources are consumed for a single item. In a traditional sense, it refers to the heavy requirement of rice needed to accompany a large pumpkin curry, signifying that one thing necessitates a large amount of another to be useful.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability. It suggests that being humble or accommodating in difficult situations is better than being rigid and suffering total destruction or failure. It is often used to advise someone to compromise rather than losing everything due to ego or stubbornness.