Wise Jamaican
Jamaican Proverbs - “To Di Worl”
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Jul 29
“Cow ded him lef’ trouble gi cow-skin”
Translation: When a cow dies, he leaves trouble for the cow skin
Meaning: Make sure that you take care of your personal business before you die, so that those you leave behind are not inconvenienced
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Jul 5
“T’ank yuh” nuh buy ‘alf bit bread
Translation: ‘Thank You’ can’t buy a half bit’s (approx 4.5 pence) worth of bread
Meaning: Applied to one who expresses obligation for a service instead of paying for it
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“Bit bit mek pound”
Filed under MoneyMay 31Bit bit mek pound
Translation: Many bits (approx 4.5 pence) make a pound
Meaning: Small amounts of money saved over time will eventually grow to a larger amount
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May 4
Quattie bread fill monkey belly
Translation: A quattie’s worth of bread will fill a monkey’s stomach
Meaning: The poor are easily satisfied
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“Han’ go, packie cum”
Filed under Jamaican Life, MoneyApr 5Han’ go packie cum
Translation: A hand goes (out) and a packet comes back
Meaning: When you reach out a helping hand, good things come back to you
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Apr 1
Dwaag sey him won’t work him wi sit down an look fa him mus get a libin
Translation: The dog says he won’t work; he will sit down and look, for he must get a living
Meaning: Some people prefer to wait on others to give them handouts instead on working for their own money
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Oct 26
Dawg say if ‘im ‘ave money, ‘im would buy ‘im owna flea
Translation: The dog says that if he had money, he would buy his own fleas
Meaning: When some people get money, they waste it on unnecessary things
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Aug 31
Kitchen dressa fawl dung, mawga dawg laaf
Translation: Kitchen dresser falls down, meagre dog laughs
Meaning: When one receives an unexpected fortune
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“Feas’ tiddeh, famine tomarro”
Filed under MoneyAug 17Feas’ tiddeh, famine tomarro’
Translation: Feast today, famine tomorrow
Meaning: Save some of what you have today, because you don’t know what tomorrow brings
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May 18
Daag hab money, ‘im buy cheese; lose ‘im money, ‘im beg de clot’
Translation: A dog who has money will buy cheese; when he loses his money he will beg the cloth
Meaning: When a poor person gets money he may spend it foolishly, but when he loses it he gets desperate and begs for scraps
