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.
Related Phrases
ఉప్పువాడు ఏడిశాడు పప్పువాడు ఏడిశాడు, బొండాపు కాయల వాడు పొర్లి పొర్లి ఏడిశాడు.
uppuvadu edishadu pappuvadu edishadu, bondapu kayala vadu porli porli edishadu.
The salt seller cried, the lentil seller cried, but the palmyra fruit seller rolled on the ground and cried.
This is a traditional Telugu nursery rhyme or a humorous saying used to describe a situation where everyone is mourning or facing a loss, but one specific person's grief or loss is disproportionately larger or more dramatic than the others. It is often used to highlight exaggerated reactions or to point out someone who is suffering the most in a collective misfortune.
చచ్చినవాడు ఏడ్చినా రాడు
chachchinavadu edchina radu
Even if you cry, the dead man will not return.
This expression is used to convey that once a loss has occurred or a situation is past, no amount of grieving or complaining will change the outcome. It emphasizes accepting reality and the futility of mourning over things that are beyond recovery or repair.
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.
వెంటరావద్దంటే, ఎత్తుకొమ్మని ఏడ్చాడట
ventaravaddante, ettukommani edchadata
When [ a child ] was told not to follow, it asked to be carried.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, when given a simple instruction or boundary, makes even more demanding and unreasonable requests. It highlights stubbornness or the tendency of someone to take undue advantage of a situation when they are already being a nuisance.
Asking much when denied a little. 44 ( 345 )
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.
కడుపు కూటికి ఏడిస్తే, కొప్పు పూలకు ఏడ్చినది
kadupu kutiki ediste, koppu pulaku edchinadi
When the belly cried for food, the hair cried for flowers.
This proverb describes a situation where there is a stark contrast between basic needs and superficial desires. It is used when someone asks for luxuries or trivial things while another person is struggling for basic survival or facing a serious crisis.
అరచేత వెన్న పెట్టుకొని నేతికి ఏడ్చినట్టు
aracheta venna pettukoni netiki edchinattu
Like a man with butter in the palm of his hand, calling out for ghi.
This proverb is used to describe a person who searches for something everywhere when it is already within their possession or reach. It highlights the irony of being unaware of the resources one already has while complaining about a lack of results (since ghee is made by melting butter).
గొడ్డువాడు గొడ్డుకు ఏడిస్తే, గొడారివాడు తోలుకు ఏడ్చినాడు
godduvadu godduku ediste, godarivadu toluku edchinadu
When the owner cried for the cow [he had lost,] the shoe- maker cried for the hide.
This proverb describes a situation where one person is mourning a great loss while another person is only interested in how they can selfishly profit from that tragedy. It highlights the contrast between genuine grief and cold-hearted opportunism.
It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.
అత్త చస్తే కోడలు యేడ్చినట్టు.
atta chaste kodalu yedchinattu.
Like the daughter-in-law lamenting the death of her mother- in-law. Feigned sorrow. Crocodile tears.
This expression is used to describe someone showing fake grief or insincere sympathy. Historically, the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in some households was seen as antagonistic; therefore, the daughter-in-law's crying is perceived as a mere formality or 'crocodile tears' rather than genuine sorrow.
పిల్లగలవాడు పిల్లకు ఏడిస్తే, కాటివాడు కాసుకు ఏడ్చినాడు
pillagalavadu pillaku ediste, kativadu kasuku edchinadu
When the father cried for his child, the sexton cried for his money.
This proverb describes a situation where different people have completely different priorities based on their self-interest. While one person is suffering a deep emotional loss (the death of a child), another person involved is only concerned with their own petty material gain or professional fee (the cost of the burial). It is used to highlight human selfishness or the lack of empathy in business transactions during tragic times.
Crows bewail the dead sheep and then eat them.