బూర్లెగంపకాడ పొర్లుదండాలు
burlegampakada porludandalu
Rolling prostrations near the basket of sweets.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone shows excessive devotion, humility, or flattery not out of genuine respect, but out of greed for a specific reward. It implies that the person's 'devotion' is strategically placed where they can benefit most, similar to performing religious rituals only because there is food nearby.
Related Phrases
ఉప్పోడు పప్పోడు ఊరకుంటే, టెంకాయలవాడు పొర్లి పొర్లి పడ్డాడంట.
uppodu pappodu urakunte, tenkayalavadu porli porli paddadanta.
While the salt seller and dal seller remained calm, the coconut seller rolled over and over (in distress).
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the primary stakeholders or the people most affected remain calm, while an outsider or someone with minimal involvement reacts with unnecessary drama or over-excitability. It highlights misplaced concern or exaggerated reactions by those who are not central to the issue.
అండలుంటే కొండలు దాటవచ్చు.
andalunte kondalu datavachchu.
If you have support, you can cross mountains.
This proverb emphasizes the power of having backing or support (financial, social, or emotional). It suggests that with the right assistance or a strong foundation, one can overcome even the most formidable obstacles that would be impossible to tackle alone.
నూనె పోగొట్టుకొన్నవాడూ ఏడ్చినాడు, బొండాపకాయల వాడూ పొర్లి పొర్లి ఏడ్చినాడు.
nune pogottukonnavadu edchinadu, bondapakayala vadu porli porli edchinadu.
The man who lost the oil cried, and the cocoanut man cried bitterly. A bullock laden with pots of oil belonging to one man and unpeeled cocoanuts belonging to another rolled over. The pots broke, but the cocoanuts were none the worse. The first man cried quietly, but the second was loud in his lamentations. Making a fuss about nothing.
This proverb describes a situation where someone with a minor or insignificant loss (or no loss at all) makes a much bigger scene than the person who suffered a genuine, significant loss. It is used to mock those who overreact or feign distress for attention when they have little at stake compared to others.
పోరిన పొరుగు, రాచిన కుండలు మనవు
porina porugu, rachina kundalu manavu
[In] a quarrelsome neighbourhood there is no thriving, pots rubbing together will not last.
This proverb highlights that constant conflict or friction leads to destruction. Just as a clay pot wears down and breaks if it is constantly scraped, a neighborhood or relationship filled with constant bickering (poru) will eventually fall apart or become uninhabitable.
కలిగి తిననేరని వాడు గంపకమ్మ
kaligi tinanerani vadu gampakamma
A person who has wealth but does not know how to enjoy it is like a basket lid.
This expression is used to describe a miser or someone who possesses plenty of resources but lives poorly or refuses to spend them on their own comfort. It compares such a person to a 'Gampakammu' (a basket frame or lid), which holds and protects the food but can never taste or consume it itself.
తంతే బూర్ల గంపలో పడ్డట్లు
tante burla gampalo paddatlu
Like falling into a basket of sweet buns (Boorelu) when kicked.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's attempt to harm or insult another person unintentionally results in a huge benefit or great luck for the victim. It signifies an accidental stroke of good fortune arising from a negative action.
పల్నాటిలో పోకకు పుట్టెడు అమ్మితే, ఆ పోకా దొరకక పొర్లి పొర్లీ ఏడ్చినదట
palnatilo pokaku puttedu ammite, a poka dorakaka porli porli edchinadata
When a Puṭṭi of grain was sold in Pôlnâḍu for an areca nut, she rolled herself on the ground and cried, for she could not even get that. Very unfortunate.
This proverb describes a situation of extreme scarcity or hyperinflation where even when one is willing to pay an exorbitant price, the desired object is simply unavailable. It is used to highlight the futility of having resources when the supply of essentials has completely vanished.
*Ubi amiti, ibi opes.
ఊకదంపుడు కబుర్లు
ukadampudu kaburlu
Pounding the husk conversations
This expression refers to idle, useless, or repetitive talk that yields no productive outcome. Just as pounding empty husks yields no grain, this phrase describes boring speeches or long-winded conversations that lack substance or value.
పొర్లించి పొర్లించి కొట్టినా, మీసాలకు మన్ను తగల్లేదు అన్నట్టు
porlinchi porlinchi kottina, misalaku mannu tagalledu annattu
When he was being rolled over and over and beaten, he said that earth had not stuck to his mustaches. Said by a defeated coward.
This expression describes a person who refuses to admit defeat or accept their mistake despite being completely proven wrong or defeated. It refers to someone who maintains a false sense of pride or makes excuses to save face even in an obviously humiliating or losing situation.
దయతో దండాలు పెడితే, పడవేసి బంధాలు పెట్టినట్లు
dayato dandalu pedite, padavesi bandhalu pettinatlu
When one offers respectful salutations out of kindness, the other responds by throwing them down and tying them up.
This proverb describes a situation where someone's kindness or humility is met with aggression or exploitation. It is used when an act of grace or respect is mistaken for weakness, leading the recipient to take undue advantage of the giver's goodness.