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.
Related Phrases
కొండమీదినుంచి బండ దొర్లించినట్టు.
kondamidinunchi banda dorlinchinattu.
Like rolling a boulder down a hill. It is easy to bowl down hill.
This expression is used to describe a task that, once started, progresses rapidly and uncontrollably with great force, or to describe the immense relief one feels after being unburdened by a heavy responsibility or a long-standing problem.
వెన్ను ముదిరి పొర్లిన గొడ్డు ఎక్కువ పాలిస్తుంది
vennu mudiri porlina goddu ekkuva palistundi
The cattle whose back has matured and rolled over provides more milk.
This proverb highlights that experience and maturity lead to better productivity. Just as an older, physically mature cow is expected to yield more milk, a person with more experience and age often possesses greater wisdom, skill, and capability in their field.
కింద పడినా మీసానికి మన్ను కాలేదన్నట్లు
kinda padina misaniki mannu kaledannatlu
Like saying no dirt touched the mustache even after falling down.
This expression is used to describe a person who refuses to admit defeat or a mistake despite a clear failure. It portrays an arrogant attitude where someone tries to save face or maintain their pride with a flimsy excuse even when their failure is obvious to everyone.
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.
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.
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.
రాళ్లు గుండ్లు దొర్లించినట్టు మాట్లాడుతాడు
rallu gundlu dorlinchinattu matladutadu
He speaks like one rolling stones and boulders. Said of a man who speaks boldly whether right or wrong.
This expression is used to describe someone who speaks in a very loud, harsh, or thundering voice. It characterizes a person's speech as being blunt, noisy, and lacking in softness or politeness, much like the loud rumbling sound produced by rolling large stones.
మించినదానికి విచారించి ఫలం లేదు
minchinadaniki vicharinchi phalam ledu
There is no point in worrying about what is past.
This proverb is equivalent to 'don't cry over spilled milk'. It is used to suggest that once something has happened or a mistake has been made that cannot be undone, there is no use in feeling regret or sorrow about it; instead, one should move forward.
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.
కొండమీద నుంచి బండ దొర్లించినట్టు
kondamida nunchi banda dorlinchinattu
Like rolling a boulder down from a hill
This expression is used to describe a task that, once started or triggered, happens with great speed, force, and ease without needing further effort. It is often used to describe someone speaking fluently and uncontrollably without a pause, or an event gaining unstoppable momentum.