A Few More Jamaican Proverbs
Here are some more Jamaican Proverbs. This time I have translated the patois as well as given the meanings of these clever sayings.
When ashes cold dawg sleep in deh.
Translation: When ashes get cold then dogs will sleep in it.
Meaning: When the glory of importance fades, people take advantage of the situation.
Sorry fi mawga dawg, mawga dawg tun roun’ bite yuh.
Translation:Show a starving dog pity and he will bite you anyway
Meaning: Empathize with a person in a problematic situation, and sometimes when things clear up later the person hurts you by his ingratitude.
Puss and dawg no ad de same luck.
Translation: Cats and Dogs will not have similar luck
Meaning: To each person come different opportunities.
Many ways to ‘ang a dog without putting’ a rope roun’ ‘im neck.
Translation: Many ways to hang a dog without using a rope around his neck
Meaning: Several strategies can be used to effect the same results.
Scawnful dawg eat dutty pudding ‘.
Translation: A scornful dog will end up eating dirty pudding.
Meaning:If you are proud and finiky you may have an experience which will crush your pride.
Kokruch noh bizniz ina fowl fight.
Translation: Cockroaches have no business in a chicken fight
Meaning: Outsiders have no business into a private problem.
Weh sweet nanny goat a go run ‘im belly.
Translation: The same thing that gives a she goat pleasure can lead to a a running belly.
Meaning: The same reason that makes you happy, can be the same reason to make you sad in the future.
Yuh cum fi drink milk, yuh noh cum fi count cows.
Translation: You are here to drink milk not count cows
Meaning: You are here on a specific business, do not be inquisitive in what does not concern you.
De higher monkey clim’ de mo’ ‘im expose.
Translation: The Higher a monkey climbs is the more exposed he becomes
Meaning:The greater the privilege, the more risky the situation and the heavier the responsibility.
Sources Used:
Reece-Daly, Cecily. Memba de culcha. Detroit: National Book International, 1997.
Beckwith, Martha Warren. Jamaican Proverbs. New York: Negro University Press, 1925.
Courtesy -The Institute of Jamaica
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I love our proverbs. They’re so colourful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your comment. Our proverbs are exactly that. Colourful!