VEGETARIAN FOOD-FOR-THOUGHT

43.  Kacang lupakan kulit

     

The bean forgets its pod

The nut is ashamed of its shell. Said of those who are embarrassed 

by their own humble origins. Nouveau riche.

44.  Dapat tebu rebah

    

To come upon a fallen sugarcane

In effect, to be spared the effort of cutting it. In clover.

45.  Pinang dibelah dua

      

Two halves of a betelnut

As alike as two peas. Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

 46.  Pagar makan padi

     

The fence devours the rice crop

Breach of trust. To suffer injury at the hands of one from whom 

protection was expected. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? 

(Who shall keep the keepers themselves?)

47.  (Seperti) aur dengan tebing

     

 (Like) bamboo and riverbank

One strengthening the other in perfect symbiosis. 

Part of a large family of idioms which includes: seperti dakwat dengan kertas 

(like ink and paper); and hilang tukul, hilanglah pahat 

(lose the hammer and you lose the chisel too).

48.  (Seperti) durian dengan mentimum

      

(Like) the durian and the cucumber

An uneven match. Odd couple. As unalike as chalk and cheese. 

May also mean "easy meat" - unfair competition, as is the case 

between harimau dengan kambing (tiger and goat); 

or lang dengan ayam (hawk and chicken).

49.  Apa boleh buat? 

Nasi sudah menjadi bubur

     

What's to be done? The rice has become gruel

An irreversible situation. Beyond help. No use crying over spilt milk.