రోలు పోయి మద్దెలతో మొర పెట్టుకున్నట్లు.

rolu poyi maddelato mora pettukunnatlu.

Translation

Like a mortar going to a drum to complain about its woes.

Meaning

This proverb is used when someone seeks help from a person who is in an even worse situation or who suffers more than themselves. In a traditional setting, a mortar (rolu) is hit with a pestle occasionally, but a drum (maddela) is beaten on both sides constantly. It signifies the irony of complaining to someone who has greater troubles.

Related Phrases

Going for pride and tying a mortar stone around one's neck

This expression describes a situation where someone, driven by ego or a false sense of pride, takes on a burden or makes a decision that ultimately causes them great hardship or self-destruction. It is used when someone's stubbornness or anger leads to a self-inflicted problem.

The mortar complaining to the drum. The mortar is beaten on one side ( by the pestle )—the drum is beaten on both sides.

This expression is used to describe a situation where one person seeks sympathy for their troubles from someone who is actually suffering even more. In the metaphor, the mortar is hit on one side, but the drum (maddela) is beaten on both sides. It highlights the irony of complaining to someone in a worse position.

Like hitting oneself with a hand that has no fingers.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person's efforts or protests are completely ineffective and go unnoticed. Just as a hand without fingers cannot produce a loud sound or physical impact when striking a surface, this phrase refers to someone who is so powerless or helpless that their complaints or struggles do not result in any change or attention.

Like a drum (maddela) going and complaining to a mortar (rolu).

This expression describes a situation where a person who is suffering seeks help or sympathy from someone who is suffering even more or is in a worse position. Since the drum gets beaten on two sides and the mortar gets pounded from the top, the drum's complaint to the mortar is ironic because the mortar has it harder.

Like saying the drum is broken because one cannot dance.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks skill or fails at a task but blames their tools, environment, or others for their failure. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'A bad workman always blames his tools'.

The husband one is married to, the jewelry one is wearing.

This expression highlights the items or people that truly belong to a person and provide real security or status. It is used to emphasize that only what is legally yours or physically in your possession can be relied upon in times of need or social standing.

Like a dancer who says the drum is bad because she cannot dance.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks skill or makes a mistake, but blames their tools, environment, or others instead of admitting their own incompetence. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'

The mortar went and complained to the drum.

This proverb is used when someone who is suffering a lot goes to complain to someone who is suffering even more. It highlights the irony of seeking sympathy from someone in a worse situation, as the mortar is struck on one side while the drum is beaten on both sides.

Like a woman who cannot dance saying the drum is crooked.

This proverb is used to describe a person who blames their tools, environment, or other people for their own lack of skill or failure. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'

Like tying a stone mortar around one's neck out of pride or spite.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person, driven by ego, pride, or stubbornness, takes an action that only causes them self-harm or creates an unnecessary burden. It highlights the foolishness of letting one's emotions lead to a decision that is difficult to sustain or carries heavy consequences.