రోళ్ళు పాడినట్లా, రోకళ్ళు పాడినట్లా

rollu padinatla, rokallu padinatla

Translation

Did the mortars sing, or did the pestles sing?

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where there is excessive, chaotic, or nonsensical noise where it is difficult to distinguish who is speaking or what is being said. It often refers to a group of people all talking or shouting at once, creating a cacophony where no clear meaning can be derived, much like the rhythmic but loud thumping of wooden tools.

Related Phrases

In Rohini Karti, pestles might sprout and grinding stones might crack.

This is a popular Telugu proverb used to describe the extreme intensity of heat during the Rohini Karti (the peak summer season). It suggests that the weather is so hot that even a dry wooden pestle could potentially sprout or a heavy stone mortar could crack under the sun's intensity.

Coming for daily wages but asking for a share in the property.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is hired for a small task or holds a subordinate position oversteps their boundaries and demands authority, ownership, or a share in the profits. It highlights the audacity of a person who forgets their actual status and expects more than what they are entitled to.

Like looking at the face of someone who has been struck by lightning.

This expression describes a person who looks extremely shocked, pale, or completely devastated after hearing sudden bad news or facing an unexpected disaster. It is used to characterize someone who appears dazed and lifeless due to a major setback.

Like the back of the head speaking when the mouth is closed.

This expression is used to describe a person who is exceptionally stubborn, argumentative, or persistent. It implies that even if you manage to silence them or win an argument, they will still find a way to have the last word or continue their defiance through some other means.

What he dances is a dance, what he sings is a song.

This expression is used to describe a person who holds absolute power, influence, or authority in a particular situation. It implies that the person can do whatever they want without any opposition, and others must follow their rules or whims.

Like it rained because the frogs croaked

This expression is used to describe a logical fallacy where someone attributes a natural or inevitable event to a coincidental action. It highlights how people mistakenly claim credit for things that were going to happen anyway, similar to thinking that a frog's croaking actually caused the rain to fall.

Like an elephant entering a sugarcane field

This expression describes a situation where someone causes total chaos or massive destruction, often by being reckless, overly powerful, or out of control. It is used when an individual or an entity ruins something valuable or organized in a short amount of time through unrestrained actions.

Like rain falling into the ocean

This expression is used to describe an action that is redundant, useless, or has no significant impact because it is being added to something that is already vast or abundant. Just as rain does not change the level of the sea, a small contribution or help given to someone who already has everything is considered pointless.

Like placing legs on two boats

This expression refers to a situation where a person is trying to pursue two different or conflicting paths at the same time. It signifies instability and the risk of failure in both endeavors, much like how one would fall into the water if the two boats they are standing on drift apart. It is used to advise someone to be decisive and commit to a single course of action.

If toddy from the silver date palm falls, old shoes will go; if liquor from the mahua flower falls, any shoes from any time will go.

This is a rural Telugu proverb highlighting the different levels of intoxication. It suggests that a person who drinks fermented palm juice (Eethakallu) might lose their old shoes in their stupor, but someone who drinks mahua liquor (Ippasara) - which is much stronger - will lose their senses completely and might lose any footwear they possess, regardless of its value or age. It is used to describe how intoxication leads to negligence and loss of property.