నాయనమ్మ ఏం చేస్తోంది అంటే ఒలకబోసి ఎత్తుకుంటోంది అన్నట్లు

nayanamma em chestondi ante olakabosi ettukuntondi annatlu

Translation

When asked what grandma is doing, it's like saying she is spilling things and then picking them up.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe someone who engages in futile, unproductive, or repetitive work that yields no actual result. It refers to a situation where a person stays busy by creating their own problems just to solve them, essentially wasting time and effort without any progress.

Related Phrases

If he says it's Śiva's bull, it is Śiva's bull; if he says it's a pig, it is a pig.

This expression describes extreme sycophancy, blind obedience, or a 'yes-man' attitude. It is used to characterize someone who agrees with everything a powerful person says, even if the statements are contradictory or obviously false, just to please them.

Said of the power of a great and unjust man.

When asked what Tatacharyulu is doing, he is making mistakes and then correcting them.

This expression is used to describe someone who repeats the same mistakes over and over, or someone who engages in unproductive work that involves creating a problem just to fix it. It highlights a cycle of useless effort or a lack of real progress.

When asked where that road goes, replying that it doesn't go anywhere and has been right here since I was born.

A humorous or sarcastic expression used to describe a person who interprets a question too literally or lacks common sense. It mocks the ignorance of someone who fails to understand that 'where does the road go' refers to its destination, not its physical movement.

When asked what the carpenter's daughter was doing, he said she was spilling things only to pick them up again.

This proverb describes a person who engages in redundant, unproductive, or repetitive work that yields no actual progress. It is used to mock someone who keeps themselves busy with meaningless tasks or creates their own problems just to solve them, essentially wasting time and energy without any real result.

Instead of seeking justice, I will bring my uncle.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person, instead of presenting a logical argument or following a fair process, relies on influence, muscle power, or family connections to settle a matter. It highlights the tendency of some people to ignore the rules of law or fairness in favor of personal backup or intimidation.

If you say it's a bull, it's a bull; if you say it's a pig, it's a pig.

This expression describes a person who is a 'yes-man' or someone who blindly agrees with whatever an influential person says, regardless of the truth or logic. It highlights submissiveness or a lack of independent judgment, often used to mock someone who changes their stance just to please a superior.

When asked 'Hello Narayamma, where is your house?', she replied 'It is in the Govindaraja temple'.

This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a vague, evasive, or logically impossible answer to a simple question. It is used to mock people who provide confusing or grandiloquent responses instead of a straightforward one, or when someone claims ownership of something that clearly doesn't belong to them.

When asked 'What are you doing?', he replied, 'I am spilling it and then picking it up'.

This proverb is used to describe someone who engages in useless, counterproductive, or repetitive work that yields no results. It highlights the behavior of creating a problem just to solve it, or performing tasks that are essentially a waste of time and effort.

When asked to dance, he sang; when asked to sing, he left.

This expression is used to describe someone who is being uncooperative, stubborn, or intentionally doing the opposite of what is requested. It highlights a person's lack of interest or skill in following simple instructions, often choosing to be difficult or evasive instead of helpful.

When asked 'Money, money, what can you do?', it replied 'I can turn a soulmate into an enemy.'

This proverb highlights the destructive power of money in personal relationships. It warns that even the deepest, life-long friendships can be destroyed by greed or financial disputes. It is used to caution people to keep financial dealings and friendships separate or to be wary of how money changes people's loyalties.