Since this is such a wide ranging --and good-- topic, its been moved to its own thread. Thanks for suggesting it, Roots Girl
-TBNet

While we look at duppy stories, perhaps we could also use this section to look at some Jamaican proverbs and their explanation.

Here's one for starters:
"If yuh kyaan ketch Quaco yuh ketch im shirt."


Basically this proverb means, if you cannot exact retribution against the right person, then punish the nearest person related to him or her. So, if a man commits a crime against you and you cannot catch him to punish him, then punish his brother or someone else close to him.

Is Quaco a known person/thing, much the same as Anancy is a widely known figure?

Di higher monkey climb, di more im expose!
Meaning, the higher your public profile, the more vulnerable you are to public scrutiny, or words to that effect.

Proverb:"Cockroach nuh business inna fowl fight"

English: Cockroaches must not get involved in chicken/fowl fight.

Meaning: Stay out of people's business. If you can't add value to a situation or argument, don't get involved, because if you do, you will wish you didn't. In the case of a cockroach getting involved in a fowl fight, chances are the roach might get eaten/swallowed.

Good thing we don't take some of our proverbs

seriously.

Retribution against relatives, cute but nasty!

Quaco is a male born on a wednesday.

I would love to know who this Turey person is. Are you Jamaican???????????

Yes C born ya and love yaad!

Best, turey the occassional person.

I think the monkey batty one was first published by Sir Fracis Bacon in Elizebethan times, in latin.

Wonder if 'El Draco' brought it over?

You know! the other Sir Francis!

Just checking the history students.

Proverb:"Fus' waata frog see, 'im jump inna it"

English: (The)First water frog sees he jumps into it.

Meaning:The first oppurtunity that comes along, go for it.

Turey, where do you live now?

Turey? Do you also use the name 'Justice' from time to time. The writing style and composition are identical. Just wondering....not that it matters.

One of my favourites -

Play fool to catch wise!!!

Am an expert at it!

Proverb: Pig did ask 'im mumma: "Whey meck yuh mout' so long? De mumma repy: Wait yuh a grow; yuh wi'' see."

English: Pig had asked his mother why was her mouth so long. The mother told pig to wait till he grew up and he would understand:

Explanation: There are some things, that with time and maturity, one will better understand.

I'm off to St Catherine bush and off the net for

a little.

Will tell Justice howdidoo!

Best and later, turey.

Proverb: "Eve'y tub haffi tan up 'pon dem own battam."

English: Every tub must stand on their own bottom

Meaning: Individuals are responsible for their own decisions and actions.

Proverb: Eve'y dawg have 'im day and eve'y puss got 'im four o'clock."

English: Every dog has his day and every puss (cat) has his four o'clock.

Meaning: Everybody will get their share of trial and tribulation. One might have his share of trial today; the next person might experience his sorrow tomorrow. Every one will get what's coming to them.

The same meaning would apply to the proverb "Teday fe me; tomorrow fe yuh," (today for me and tommorrow for you).

Proverb:"See an' blin', hear an' deaf"

English: See and blind; hear and deaf.

Meaning: One should take note of things around us, but sometimes it is better not to let others know everything we know.

Proverb: A masta hass(horse),and a masta grass.


Meaning:The owner of something can do as he pleases with it.

Proverb: "Stone a riva battam no know sun hat"

English: The stone at the bottom of the river does not know how hot the sun is.

Meaning: You cannot relate to someone's experience if you are not in similar conditions.

YES YES THE HIGHER THE MONKEY CLIMB, THE MORE HE EXPOSE, THAT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO THE HE MONKEY AND THE SHE MONKEY, HE FALL BUFF ANS SHE FALL BAFF. DO YOU KNOW THEM.

When morass ketch fire land turtle look fe mangrove tree.(Any port in a storm)

Goat in too much grass him,yu tek him put a kitchin corner him climb pon stone.(One is never satisfied with one has)

Pig ax his mumma say,wha'mek him mout so long:him say-ah,no mine mi pickney:dat something mek fe me long so,wi mek fi yu long so too.(The young are always surprised at the deformities of the ageing, but as they age they will also experience them)

1-Canada2, another version; pig ax him mumma, wha mek you mout long so? mumma say, yuha come yuwe si.

2-goat mus know the size of im ass before im swallow plum seed

3-whe sweet nanny goat a go run im belly

We could go on forever, isn't our culture sweet?!?!?!

Hey Alice so true.

Proverb: Eve'y hoe have it stick a bush
English: Every hoe has its stick in the bush
Meaning: There is someone for everyone

Jack panna(peel neck)fowl cry fe life,him no cry fe de deddef(feather).Life is more important than the keeping up of appearances:for if life he granted,appearances may be granted.)

donkey the worl nuh leveh

a nuh same time leaf drop a river bottom it rotton

Born in Jamaica. Never heard most of these saying.

It's hard to even grasp what is being written here.Thank God translation is done in proper English.

Well, I was not born in Jamaica and I love seeing these sayings in patois as well as in English. Please post more.

Is there a saying for someone who is always negative?

'Unfortunate' says it all Positive.