mete outஅளந்து போடுaḷantu pōṭu(aḷandu pooḍu)(4 tr)measure s.t. out carefully or frugally; distribute or grant s.t. to s.o. cautiously; sprinkle
Usage:
ஆற்றில் போட்டாலும் அளந்து போடவேண்டும்āṟṟil pōṭṭālum aḷantu pōṭavēṇṭum
aattule pooṭṭaalum aḷandu pooḍaṇum
(As the Tamil proverb says) 'Even if you dump something in a river, it should be meted out carefully'.