Wise Jamaican

“Cause parrot mek noise, dem sey a ‘im one nyam banana”

Translation: Because the parrot makes a noise, they say that he is the only one that ate the banana

Meaning: More than one person may be involved in a crime, but the one who talks too much gets caught

Mi neva bawn wen mi madda gone a market

Translation: I was not born when my mother was gone to the market

Meaning: I am not stupid

Pig ask ‘im Mumma wha mek har mout’ long so; Mumma sey, ‘No mind pickney, yuh a grow, yuh wi see’

Translation: The pig asked his Mother why her mouth was so long; Mother said, ‘Don’t worry child, you are growing, you will see’

Meaning: Eventually children will learn about the challenges of life

If ‘peech wurt a shillin’, silence wurt a pound

Translation: If speech is worth a shilling, silence is worth a pound

Meaning: While talking might be beneficial, sometimes silence is more important; Silence is golden

Crab sey ‘im nuh trust nuh shadder after dark

Translation: The crab says he does not trust any shadow after dark

Meaning: Don’t be too eager to make assumptions when the situation is uncertain.

Also expressed as “Crab sey ‘im nuh trust nuh shadder after dark, not even ‘him brudder-in-law, Lobster” What he thinks is a shadow of a claw, may be a man’s hand out to catch him.

De tune yuh playing nuh de one I dancing

Translation: The tune you are playing is not the one I am dancing to

Meaning: The situation that you are in, I don’t want to be a part of it

Translation: Before a dog goes without his supper, he will eat cockroaches

Meaning: When times are hard, people will make do with whatever is available

Yuh nuh no how parson get ‘im gown

Translation:  You do not know how the parson got his gown

Meaning: Do not be envious of other people’s success; you don’t know what they may have gone through to achieve their goals

Gi a man mi haas, ‘im waan saddle to

Translation: Give a man my horse, he wants a saddle as well

Meaning: When you help out someone once and they continually come to you for more handouts; Persons who are not willing to help themselves after getting a start in life

If yuh see everybody a run tek time

Translation: If you see everybody running take your time

Meaning: You may get into trouble following others; don’t be too quick to find out the source of the excitement