Wise Jamaican
Jamaican Proverbs - “To Di Worl”
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Dec 30
“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
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“Gi a man mi haas, ‘im waan saddle to”
Filed under Animals, PersonalityNov 4Gi 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
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Sep 30
If yuh nuh hab good fe sey, nuh sey nuh bad
Translation: If you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything bad
Meaning: Keep your mouth shut if you have nothing good to say
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“Fowl gwen fat, ‘im begin fram him toe”
Filed under Animals, PersonalityAug 12Fowl gwen fat, ‘im begin fram him toe
Translation: If a fowl is going to be fat, he begins at his toe
Meaning: A person’s adult characteristics are formed in childhood
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“When service ova, de church door shut”
Filed under PersonalityAug 5When service ova de church door shut
Translation: When the service is over, the church door is shut
Meaning: Typical of people that lavished all they have on others, and when the money is finished, everyone leaves them
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Jul 26
Learn fi dance a yaad before yu dance abraad
Translation: Learn to dance at home before you dance abroad
Meaning: Make sure you know what you are doing before you expose it to others
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“Play fool fi ketch wise”
Filed under Jamaican Life, PersonalityJul 19Play fool fi ketch wise
Translation: Act foolishly to catch the wise
Meaning: To feign ignorance to one’s own benefit
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“A nuh ebry fish a sea a shark”
Filed under Animals, PersonalityMay 20A nuh ebry fish a sea a shark
Translation: It is not every fish in the sea is a shark
Meaning: Don’t make assumptions about people based on where they live
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“De wisest man sometime tun fool”
Filed under PersonalityApr 19De wisest man sometime tun fool
Translation: The wisest man sometimes turns foolish
Meaning: No matter how wise you are, there are times when you can do foolish things
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Mar 25
Don’t mek goat watchman fe breadfruit tree
Translation: Don’t make a goat the watchman for a breadfruit tree
Meaning: Don’t put an unsuitable person in an important position
