Wise Jamaican

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.

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

A nuh same day leaf drap it rotten

Translation:  It is not the same day a leaf falls, that it rots

Meaning:  Meant as a threat against one who tries to take advantage of another’s misfortune, implying that the unfortunate one is not entirely helpless

Nuh let mudfish tail touch wata

Translation: Don’t let a mudfish’s tail touch water

Meaning: Used as a threat to a troublesome person

Feel before yuh mount

Translation: Feel before you mount (a horse)

Meaning: Take the time to look out for possible challenges or danger before you act

If yu bawn fi heng, yu cyaan drown

Translation: If you were born to be hanged, you cannot drown

Meaning: Whatever is your destiny, it will be fulfilled

Yuh get inna daag corn piece

Translation: You have got yourself into a dog’s cornfield

Meaning: Someone getting into serious difficulties by venturing into dangerous territory

“If I don’t ketch yuh a moonshine I will ketch yuh a dark nite”

Translation: If I don’t catch you at moonshine I will catch you at dark night

Meaning: Implies a threat to someone that they will be caught when they are off-guard

Doah yuh cyaan stop flyin’ crow feader from drop, yuh can ‘inder crow from meck nes’ pon yuh head top

Translation: Although you cannot stop a flying crow from dropping his feathers, you can stop the crow from making a nest on your head

Meaning: Although you may not be able to stop some problems, you can put steps in place to prevent them from having a very negative effect

Idle jackass go a pound

Translation: A stray jackass is taken to the animal pound

Meaning: People who waste time can get into trouble