Correct grammar shows that you studied. A proverb at the right moment shows that you listened. This class goes slowly through nine പഴഞ്ചൊല്ല്, each with the literal meaning, the sense, when to use it and its cousins in other languages. The frog in the well is also a Chinese idiom over two thousand years old. Then come idioms that drop into everyday sentences, such as catching a tiger's tail, and സാരമില്ല. It ends with a practical rule: choose two proverbs, learn them properly and wait for the right moment. Words and phrases in this class: പഴഞ്ചൊല്ല് (pazhanchollu) – proverb (an old saying) മുറ്റത്തെ മുല്ലയ്ക്ക് മണമില്ല (muttathe mullaykku manamilla) – the jasmine in your own yard has no fragrance കാക്കയ്ക്കും തൻ കുഞ്ഞ് പൊൻകുഞ്ഞ് (kaakkaykkum than kunju ponkunju) – even to a crow, its own chick is golden കിണറ്റിലെ തവള (kinattile thavala) – the frog in the well മുള്ളിനെ മുള്ളുകൊണ്ട് എടുക്കണം (mulline mullukondu edukkanam) – a thorn must be removed with a thorn ചക്കിന് വെച്ചത് കൊക്കിന് കൊണ്ടു (chakkinu vechathu kokkinu kondu) – aimed at the jackfruit, it hit the crane ആന കൊടുത്താലും ആശ കൊടുക്കരുത് (aana koduthaalum aasha kodukkaruthu) – give an elephant if you must, but never false hope അടി കൊണ്ടവനേ അറിയൂ അടിയുടെ വേദന (adi kondavane ariyoo adiyude vedana) – only the one who was hit knows the pain പുലിവാല് പിടിക്കുക (pulivaalu pidikkuka) – to catch a tiger's tail (get into a fix) ചെവി കൊടുക്കുക (chevi kodukkuka) – to give ear, to listen വയറ്റിൽ തീ (vayattil thee) – fire in the stomach (severe hunger) സാരമില്ല (saaramilla) – never mind, it does not matter In this class: • The jasmine, the crow and the frog in the well, with their cousins abroad • Proverbs for misfired plans, false promises and slow, steady effort • Idioms that drop into sentences: the tiger's tail, oil in the eyes, fire in the stomach • How to use a proverb without it sounding like a party trick Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.