Wise Jamaican
Jamaican Proverbs - “To Di Worl”
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May 4
Fire deh a mus-mus tail him t’ink a cool breeze
Translation: Fire is behind the mouse and he thinks it is a cool breeze
Meaning: You can sometimes be oblivious that your action is arousing wrath, as you do wrong and think it right
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Mar 2
Nuh buy puss eena bag
Translation: Do not buy a cat in a bag
Meaning: When doing business transaction always be careful
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Dec 15
Cock mout’ kill cock
Translation: Cock’s mouth kills the cock
Meaning: A person tells more than he should to his own harm
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“If yuh can’t ketch Quaco, yuh ketch him shut”
Filed under DangerNov 10If yuh can’t ketch Quaco, yuh ketch him shut
Translation: If you can’t catch Quaco, you catch his shirt
Meaning: If the person that is wanted escapes, then vengenance may be taken upon his relatives or friends
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Oct 20
Bucket go well ebry day, wan day di battam mus drap out
Translation: The bucket goes to the well everyday, one day the bottom will fall out
Meaning: Taking the same risks everyday can become eventually end in disaster
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Sep 22
Crab’n choke puppy
Translation: A craven puppy will choke
Meaning: If you are greedy it can hurt you
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“Trouble nuh set like rain”
Filed under Danger, Jamaican LifeSep 8Trouble nuh set like rain
Translation: Trouble does not set up like rain
Meaning: Problems can arrive when one does not expect it
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Aug 25
Nuh swap blak daag fe monkey
Translation: Don’t swap black dog for monkey
Meaning: Don’t throw away one bad thing for something worse
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Aug 4
When trouble tek yuh, pickney shut fit yuh
Translation: When trouble comes to you, a child’s shirt will fit you
Meaning: When in difficult situations, you have to make adjustments to survive
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Jul 21
Chicken merry hawk deh near
Translation: When the chicken is merry, the hawk is near
Meaning: When people are playful and get careless, then danger can come up suddenly on them
