వ్యాధి వచ్చినవాడు వెట్టి పట్టినవాడు ఒకటి.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two different paths or choices lead to the same unfortunate result. It suggests that whether a problem is caused by nature (whirlpool) or man-made (moat), the consequence of being trapped or ruined remains identical.

This expression suggests that a person who has lost their direction in life is comparable to someone who has attended school without actually learning or applying anything. It is used to critique someone who lacks common sense or purpose despite having access to resources or opportunities.

This proverb is used to suggest that words alone—whether insults or blessings—do not determine a person's fate or lifespan. It emphasizes that one should not take curses to heart or rely solely on blessings, but rather focus on reality and one's own actions.

* Van dreigen sterft man neit.

This proverb highlights the uncertainty and futility of certain actions. Plowing 'Metta' (dry/rain-fed land) is risky because the harvest depends entirely on unpredictable rain, often leading to no result. Similarly, a person who drinks 'Lotte' (toddy/liquor) loses their senses and ends up with nothing. It is used to describe situations where hard work or actions are likely to go to waste due to unfavorable conditions or bad habits.

This expression is used to question a person's priorities or motives when they seem more interested in superficial benefits (like food) rather than the primary purpose or spiritual significance of an event (like receiving holy water at a temple). It is often used to chide someone who is distracted by secondary perks.

This proverb highlights the transient nature of power and social status. It suggests that authority and leadership are only relevant while a person is alive and present in society; once deceased, their worldly influence vanishes and they belong only to the graveyard.

This proverb reflects a pragmatic and somewhat cynical view of human nature. It suggests that people only like those who provide them with something or give them money. The second part implies that a person's debts are effectively canceled or their accounts are settled only when they pass away, often used to comment on the difficulty of recovering debts or the fleeting nature of social approval based on transactions.

This proverb is used to describe someone who is extremely slow or procrastinates to a ridiculous extent. It depicts a situation where a person sent to get life-saving medicine for a patient returns so late that the patient has already died and it is time for the 'Masikam' (a ritual performed one month after death).

This proverb highlights two harsh realities of life: people only appreciate those who are generous or provide help, and once a person dies, their debts and obligations often perish with them, making it impossible to recover what was owed. It is used to describe the nature of gratitude and the finality of death regarding liabilities.

This proverb highlights that a person who fails to keep their word loses their credibility and status. It suggests that breaking a commitment is a sign of an unreliable character, making the person as useless or aimless as someone wasting time circling a rock.