JAMAICAN PHRASES or PROVERBS
"Me come yah fi drink milk, me no come yah fi count cow!"
(Deliver that which you promised, don't just talk about it!) (15)
stay out of trouble or gossip. Means I came here to (whatever you came for) not get involved
in politics or gossip. (29)"Carry Go Bring Come" (gossip) (12)
"A so im tan" (that is what he is like)
"tan deh!" or "yu tan deh!" (just you wait!)
"Tan tedy", stand steady, means "hold still". (5)
Bunks Mi Res (catch my rest, take a nap) (5)
"yu dam Lagga head bud" (stupid) (14)
"What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly" is a
cautionary Jamaican proverb which translated means:
What tastes good to a goat will ruin his belly. In
other words - the things that seem good to you now, can hurt you later... (10)
"tek smadi mek poppy-show", which means to make fun of
someone or shame them, making them look ridiculous. (5)
"You too red eye" (meaning, you're too envious) (14)
Ya No See It? (you know?) (1)
"the gal come wine up on me," it would mean that the girl came and was
dancing up on me. (17)"Chicken merry; hawk deh (is) near", it's a Jamaican
proverb which simply means, every silver lining has its dark cloud
Even in the happiest times one must still be watchful. (22)
"Fire de a Mus Mus tail, him tink a cool breeze". Set a Rat's tail
on fire and he's thinks there's a cool breeze. Used to describe
someone or something (the system for example) that is clueless. (4)
This characterizes the delusional complacency of the upper classes. (22)
"Me bleach hard lass night" i partied straight through the night. (20)
"A promise is a comfort to a fool". (4)
"coo pon dat bwoy", "look at that boy" (17)
"Mi no come yah fi hear bout how horse dead an cow fat"
It's like telling somebody to knock off with irrelevant details. (21) (29)
"Me throw me corn but me no call no fowl"
It evokes the image of a farmer silently scattering who is
saying, in effect: "Don't call yourself a chicken just because you eat my
feed; I never said I was endeavoring to feed the chickens." That is, "You
are who you show yourself to be, not who you might say you are." (21)
"Sorry for maga dog, maga dog turn round bite you". This metaphor extends
very well to all manner and sort of do-gooding and should be considered before
any hasty acts of charity! (22) giving help to someone and they show no sign of thanks and may even scorn you for it. (29)
"Mi throw mi corn, but me no call no fowl". refers to the conversational
technique of throwing out a provocative statement (throw corn) in an indirect
manner, thus forestalling any accusations of personal insult. (22)
"Sweet nanny goat have a running belly". It's a barnyard analogy akin to the
grass is always greener, but much coarser, noting that the sweet foliage avidly
sought out by the nanny goat gives it diarrhea (running belly). It's a blunt
way of warning someone off temptation. (22)
"cock mouth kill cock" really can't be expanded upon any further, nor can the
similar "If a fish coulda keep him mout' shut, him would neva get caught". (22)
somebody who chat too much (29)
"Everyting Crash". The topic is social chaos. Also, "come bad in de morning
can't come good a evenin'", and the even more pessimistic "every day bucket
go a well, one day di bucket bottom mus drop out". (22)
Mashin up of one's plans (29)
"Wanti wanti can't get it, getti getti no want it", i.e., the Have-nots covet
what the Haves take for granted. (22)
"Trouble no set like rain", that is, unlike bad weather, we are often not
warned by dark clouds on the horizon. (22)reminder to be careful (29)
Jamaican proverbs consistently counsel patience and forebearance, as in the
beautiful image "time longer than rope". The child must "creep before him
walk". And remember, "one one coco fill up a basket", take it easy and fill
up your shopping basket one item at a time. (22)
"Every mikkle makes a muckle", refers to thriftiness, similar to "a penny
saved is a penny earned". (22)
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