The Caribbean Dictionary

Caribbean proverbs and sayings

'Tank yu' nu buy half bit bread
__

Payment is more useful than expressions of gratitude

A crab never forget he hole
__

There's no place like home.

A eyeful en a bellyful
__

Seeing is different from having.

A faas mek anansi de a house top
__

It is dangerous to meddle in the affairs of others.

A lia is fugetful
__

A dishonest person can't remember to keep his story straight.

A no wantin tongue mek cattle can't talk
__

it's sometimes wisest to keep one's mouth shut.

A nu same day leaf drop it rotten
__

One bit of misfortune does not mean total destruction

A word betta dan a wink fo a bline horse
__

Use the right motivation for each person

All cassava get same skin but all nah taste same way
__

People may look alike, but all act differently

All crab fine dey hole
__

Everyone finds their place in life.

All fish does bite but shark does get di blame.
__

Those with a history of bad behaviour are always the first ones accused

All mout nu set fi tell di same lie.
__

If everyone says the same thing, there may be truth behind it.

Alligator lay egg, but him nu fowl
__

Things are not always as they seem.

Alligator shouldn't call hog long mout.
__

You shouldn't belittle or criticise others when you have the same faults.

Anansi rope tie him maasa
__

Be careful that you are not caught in the traps you set for others.

Annu every kin teet a laugh
__

Someone who smiles to your face does not necessarily mean you well

Ants follow fat, fat drown im
__

Excessive greed will hurt you.

Anyting stay too long serve two masta
__

Take advantage of what you have before someone else takes it away from you

Apre dans tanbou lou.
__

"After the dance, the drums are heavy". It's not all fun and good times when the party ends. Sometimes there's hard work.

Bad ting neva got owner
__

No one wants to take responsibility for a mistake or bad situation

Before dawg go widout suppa, im nyam cockroach
__

Make do with what is available to you.

Before monkey buy trousers, him affi know whe fi put him tail
__

Make sure the fashions of others suit you before you rush to adopt them.

Bel anteman pa di paradi.
__

A beautiful funeral is no guarantee of entry into heaven.

Belly full, pitata ave kin
__

Contented people can afford to be choosy

Ben di tree when it young, when it ole it wi bruk
__

It is easier to train children when they are young than when they are older

Betta belly buss dan good food waste
__

It is better to overeat than to waste great food.

Better fish in di sea dan wha get ketch
__

There's always a better lover than your current one.

Big tree fall down, goat bite he leaf
__

When the mighty fall on hard times, they are disrespected by all.

Bit bit mek poun
__

Small amounts will eventually add up

Black bud say fi im pickny fus
__

Attend to your own affairs before the affairs of others.

Blood can't wash out wit blood
__

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Blood falla vein
__

Family comes first

Blood ticka dan water, but water taste better
__

Dealing with friends or strangers is often better than dealing with family

Breeze blow pelikin same place him waa go
__

Some people will change direction or opinion to suit the moment

Bucket go well every day, one day di bottom ago drop out
__

If you repeatedly take the same risks, eventually it will end in disaster

Bucket wid hole a battam nu have no business a riverside
__

Don't criticise others when you have faults of your own.

Bud fly too faas, pass him nes
__

Excessive ambition puts one in danger of missing their goals

Byen prè pa lakay.
__

Very close is not home yet. A miss by an inch is the same as a miss by a mile.

Cat a ketch rat, but he a teef he massa fish.
__

Good and evil often come from the same source.

Cause parrot mek noise, dem say a him one nyam banana
__

The loudest and most obvious always gets blamed.

Chak jou pa dimanch
__

Every day is not Sunday. You can't rest all the time, sometimes you have to work.

Changie black dog fuh monkey
__

To make an exchange for something equally bad or worse than the original

Chicken merry, hawk de near.
__

Danger lurks wherever there is too much merriment and excitement.

Chile whe de on mudda back nu know how road long
__

The young and inexperienced don't understand true troubles or hardships.

Clear conscience sleep a tunda
__

Those with a clear conscience can sleep well through the stormiest nights

Cock mout kill cock
__

Choose your words with care lest you draw unpleasant or unwanted attention to yourself.

Cockroach neva right before chicken
__

One will never be judged fairly by one's enemies.

Cockroach nu go da fowl dance
__

Don't go where you don't belong.

Common sense make before book sense.
__

Not all useful knowledge comes from books or formal learning.

Crab say im nu trus nu shadow afta dark
__

Don't make assumptions in uncertain situations.

Crab walk too much lose him claw
__

If you overuse a thing you will break or lose it.

Crave all, get none at all
__

Excessive greed puts one in danger of losing everything.

Craven choke puppy
__

Greed will hurt you

Crow does fly high, but when e come down, de ants does still eat out e eye
__

When the mighty fall on hard times, they are disrespected by all.

Cyaa bury a man an lef out him foot
__

Be sure to properly complete the task at hand

Dance a yard before yu dance abroad
__

Practice good behaviour at home before you go outside.

Dawg a sweat an long hair hide it
__

Things are not always what they seem. Not all that glitters is gold. Outward success often masks hidden struggles or stress.

Dawg a sweat and long hair hide it
__

Things are not always as they seem

Dawg say 'if im ave money', im woulda buy flea
__

Some people spend money on useless or necessary things.

Dawg whe eat egg neva stop
__

Bad habits are hard to break

Day longa dan rope
__

Time will right or avenge all wrongs

De dog dat bring a bone will caah one
__

The person that gossips to you will gossip about you.

De higher de monkey climb de more he show he tail
__

The more one shows off, the more one is vulnerable to ridicule and criticism.

De las' calf kill di cow
__

The final straw breaks the camel's back - Doing something once too many can cause disaster.

Def ears gi liad trouble
__

Be certain of what you have heard before you choose to repeat it

Di hotta di battle, di sweeta di victory
__

Success is more rewarding after hard work and struggle

Di house whe shelta yu when a rain, look fi it when sun hot
__

When you become successful, look out for those that helped you during your hard times.

Di man mek outa honey, fly wi nyam him
__

People take advantage of the goodnatured.

Di ola di moon di brighta di shine
__

Age brings widsom

Di olda di moon di brighta it shine
__

Age brings wisdom

Donkey got long ear but he don' like to hear he own story
__

People don't like to take criticism.

Duppy know who fi frighten
__

Bullies know exactly who they can abuse.

Dutty han mek greasy mout
__

Work hard and you will eat well and enjoy the fruits of life

Dutty water cool hot iron
__

Every thing has its use.

Dutty water will out fyah
__

Every thing has its use.

Ebery pat gat a kibber
__

There's someone for everyone.

Empty bag cyaa stan up
__

A hungry person cannot work

Every day da nu Sundeh
__

You can't rest every day, sometimes you have to work

Every day devil help teef. One day god wi help watchman
__

Good people should not be discouraged by the successes of unscrupulous people

Every day yu goad donkey, one day him gwine kick yu
__

Everyone has their limits

Every mickle mek a muckle
__

Every little bit adds up

Every rope gat two ends.
__

Every story has two sides.

Every tub affi sit on it own bottom.
__

Every person will have to take responsibility for his own life and actions.

Falla fashion monkey caahn buy good soup
__

Some people try to keep up with the fashions of others even if they have to deprive themselves of basic necessities.

Fattening frog for snake
__

Taking care of a woman only for a next man to enjoy her.

Finger neba say look ya, him say look yonda.
__

People never point out their own faults.

Fisherman never smell he own basket
__

People are oblivious to their own faults and flaws

Fool fool daag bark afta moonlight
__

Fools worry about everything

Fowl gwine fat im begin fram him toe
__

Adult behaviours begin in childhood

Fowl whe feed a yard nu hard fi ketch
__

It is easy to catch up to someone who is avoiding or running away from you when that person depends on you for something essential.

Fus food da nu fool
__

Don't blame the first one deceived.

Fus laaf anno laaf
__

He who laughs last, laughs best

Fyah de a mus mus tail, him tink a cool breeze
__

Some people are happily oblivious to the trouble or dangers hanging over them.

Gi a man a haas him want saggle to
__

Help someone once and they'll always want more

Goat doh make sheep
__

Children turn out like their parents.

Good friend betta dan pocket money
__

True friends are better than money

Good soup neva meet good fufu
__

Good things rarely happen at the same time

Haad ears pickny nyam rockstone
__

Disobedient children often learn the hard way

Han napkin tun tablecloth
__

Someone who has advanced in life and now looks down on others

Hand go, hand come.
__

As you give, so shall you receive.

Hang yu basket whe yu can reach it
__

Keep your goals within your abilities and means

Hog ask he mumma "whe mek yu mout so long?". He mumma say "nu worry chile, you soon fine out"
__

Experience teaches wisdom

Hog know where to rub he skin
__

Bullies know exactly who they can abuse.

Hog say the fus water im ketch im walla
__

Take advantage of the first opportunity.

Howdy an tenk yu nu bruk no square
__

It never costs anything to be polite.

Humble calf suck di most milk
__

Humility is more rewarding that arrogance

Hungry mek cat eat salt
__

Necessity or hard times forces people to do strange things

Hungry mek monkey blow fire
__

People are forced to become innovative and resourceful under harsh conditions

If blackbird fly wid pigeon he will get shoot
__

You are judged by the company you keep.

If speech wort shillin, silence worth pound
__

Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut. Silence is golden.

If you bawn fi heng, yu cyaa drown
__

Your destiny will be fulfilled

If yu cuss Johncrow peel head turky wi bex
__

People resent when you criticise others that are similar to them

If yu cyaa get turkey, satisfy wid John Crow.
__

Make the best of a bad situation, and be content with what you have.

If yu cyaa walk faas, tek time run
__

Master the basics before you attempt more difficult activities

If yu cyaa walk faas, tek time run
__

Master the basics before you attempt more difficult activities

If yu fraid a yeye yu cyaa nyam head
__

One must be willing to put up with unpleasant things in order to be successful

If yu mash ants yu fine im guts
__

People reveal their true colours when faced with pressure or hard times.

If yu nu check di watah, nu tek off yu shoe
__

Look before you leap

If yu nu go unda fowl coob, fowl cyaa shit pan yu
__

People abuse you or take advantage of you unless you put yourself in a position for them to do so.

If yu see everybody a run tek time
__

Don't be too eager to follow others

If yu waa good, yu nose affi run
__

Success requires hard work

If yu want half a bread beg it, if yu want one, buy it yuself
__

If you want a job done right, do it yourself

Igle jackass follow cane trash go a poun
__

People who have nothing to do, or are bored do stupid things to kill time

Jackass say 'hill an gully yasso', 'hill and gully desso'
__

Life is filled with ups and downs

Jackass seh di worl nu level
__

Life isn't fair.

John Crow tink he pickny white
__

Parents think their children are saints, different from other children

Kay koule twompe soley soley men li pa twompe lapil.
__

A leaky house can fool the sun, but it can't fool the rain.

Kine word neva bruk jawbone
__

You'll never get beat up for saying something nice or polite

La salud es la mayor riqueza
__

Health is the greatest wealth.

Lafimen pa janm leve san dife.
__

There's no smoke without fire. Rumours always have a grain of truth.

Laugh an cry does live in di same house
__

The thing that makes you happy may also hurt you

Lessa fowl, lessa shit
__

Fewer people, fewer problems.

Likkle alligator tun big alligator
__

Children invariably adopt all the bad attributes of their parents.

Makak pa janm kwe petit-li led.
__

"A monkey never thinks her baby's ugly." People never see their own faults

Man hate yu, he gi yu basket fi carry wata
__

People who dislike you will give you difficult or impossible tasks

Man nu dead, nu call dem duppy
__

Don't underestimate people

Mawga cow a bull mumma
__

Someone who appears weak or vulnerable may have powerful allies.

Mek sure betta dan cock sure
__

It is better to verify than to assume

Men anpil chay pa lou.
__

Many hands lighten the load.

Mischief come by di poun and go by di ounce
__

It only takes a little effort or few words to start a lot of trouble.

Monkey doh si he own tail
__

People never recognise their own faults

Moon run faas but day ketch im
__

Your actions and misdeeds will eventually have consequences.

Nan tan grangou patat pa gen po.
__

In times of famine and hardships potatoes have no skin.

Neva drap di bone fi ketch di shadow
__

Don't lose what you have because of greed for more.

No stop a donkey whe yu no own
__

Mind your own business.

Nu betta herrin, nu betta barrel
__

Don't expect children to be better than, or different from, their parents.

Nu cuss alligator long mout til yu cross di riva
__

Don't provoke people while they are in a position to retaliate.

Nu dash whe stick before yu done cross riva
__

Don't be too quick to discard or reject things because you may need them in the future

Nu jus one way fi heng dog
__

There is more than one way to accomplish a goal

Nu matta how boar hog hide unda sheep wool, him grunt betray him
__

People's true colours will always come to the surface

Nu tek ugly mek laugh
__

Don't laugh at the misfortunes of others

Nubady neva kick dead dawg
__

The successful are criticised

Nutt'n beat a trial but a failure.
__

You can't succeed if you don't try.

Nyam some, lef some
__

Plan for tomorrow; Don't consume everything all at once.

Ole fyah stick easy fi ketch
__

It's easier to rekindle a romantic relationship than to start a new one with someone new.

One finga cyaa ketch lice
__

Sometimes it is necessary to cooperate in order to achieve a goal

One one blow does kill ole cow
__

Simple or minor annoyances may build up to cause major damage

One one coco full basket
__

Little by little the task will be completed

One plate a dinner nu fatten maaga dog
__

One piece of good luck doesn't do much to change a bad state of affairs

Parson christ'n him pickny fus
__

People look out for themselves before others

Pastor christen him pickny first
__

Take care of your own affairs before you attend to the affairs of others.

Peacock hide him foot when him hear 'bout him tail.
__

A proud person hides his weaknesses when praised.

Peel neck fowl bawl fi life, im nu bawl fi fedda
__

Outward beauty isn't the most important thing

People nuh stone mango tree when it naw bear.
__

People attack you for your successes

Pepper bun hot but it good fi curry
__

Harsh advice may be good for you

Pick an pick until yu pick shit
__

The excessively pickny end up making poor choices

Plantain nu eat like rice
__

Make do with what is available to you

Play fool fi ketch wise
__

Feign ignorance to one's advantage

Play stone kill bud
__

One person's fun and games may have serious consequences for another.

Play wid puppy he lick yu mout
__

Familiarity breeds contempt

Poun a fret cyaa pay ounce a debt
__

Worrying does not improve a bad situation.

Poun a fret cyaa pay ounce a debt
__

Worrying doesn't solve problems

Poun o fretment nu pay fo gill o debtment
__

Worrying does not improve a bad situation.

Pudd'n cyaa bake widout fyah
__

You need the right tools for each job

Puss belly full him say rat batty stink
__

Only contented people can afford to be choosy.

Quattie bread full monkey belly
__

The poor or disadvantaged are easily satisfied

Rain a fall but dutty tough
__

Income is coming in, but not enough to meet all needs

Rat mout does sell he head
__

Talking too much gets one in trouble

Rayi chyen di dan’l blan.
__

"Hate the dog, but admit its teeth are white". Give the devil his due; even those you dislike may have good qualities.

Rockstone a riva bottom nu know sun hot
__

Sheltered persons don't know true hardship or troubles.

Sa k rive koukouloulou a, ka rive kakalanga tou.
__

What happens to the turkey can happen to the rooster too.

Sake a mout fish get ketch
__

Talking too much gets one in trouble

Saltfish de pan counta a wait pan bread an butta
__

Lazy people wait for rewards instead of working for them

Same knife kill sheep kill goat
__

The thing you do to others can be done to you.

Sel pa vante tèt li di li sale.
__

Salt doesn't brag that it is salty.

Sick nu care, doctor worst
__

If you don't care about your own problems, don't expect anyone else to care

So much mout cyaa set fi tell di same lie
__

If everybody makes the same accusation then there must be some truth in it.

Sorry fi mawga daag dem tun roun bite you.
__

No good deed goes unpunished.

Studyation betta dan education
__

Common sense is better than formal education or learning.

Teef Teef from feef, God laugh
__

God laughs at poetic justice

Teef neva love fi si teef wid long bag
__

Unscrupulous people begrudge the successes of other unscrupulous people

Tek kin teet kibba heart bun
__

Laughter is the best medicine

Thief neva like fi see thief with long bag
__

Those who prosper by illegal or crooked means dislike those who are more successful than themselves via the same means

Trouble nu set like rain
__

Problems often arrive without warning

Tumuch callaloo mek peppa pot bitta
__

There can be too much of a good thing

Two poor cow does make good dung
__

People of limited means can improve themselves by working together and combining resources

Victory nu come fram lie dung inna bead
__

Success requires hard work

Want all, lose all.
__

Excessive greed puts one in danger of losing everything.

We don't play hockey, we eat hockey -- Shabba Ranks
__

Wen da tree ben yu cyaa straighten it
__

Train children properly before it's too late

Wen man dead grass grow da i door mout
__

The dead are soon forgotten.

Wen yu gwine knock anansi memba di wall
__

When you try to hurt another be sure you aren't hurting yourself.

Wha nu kill fatten
__

That which does not destroy you makes you stronger

Wha sweeten yu mouth goin bitter yu tail.
__

That which causes merriment and pleasure now will cause grief and sorrow later.

Whe horse reach, jackass does reach an pass
__

The race is not for the swift, slow and steady wins

When bone nu provide, dog nu de
__

One is not welcome where one is not invited

When bull foot bruk, im nyam wid monkey
__

Misfortune or harsh time creates unlikely companionships

When cloud shado come, sun nu set
__

One rough time does not mean all hope is lost

When cockroach mek dance e no invite fowl
__

Don't invite trouble.

When coco ripe it mus bus
__

All will be revealed when the time is right.

When jackass smell corn him gallop
__

Use the appropriate encouragement for each person

When man no gat nutt'n fu do he go da sabana an tell cow maanin
__

People who have nothing to do, or are bored do stupid things to kill time

When pickny waa cry, yuh only look pan dem an dem cry
__

Some people love to complain, and will complain about every and anything

When rat like ramp roun puss jaw, one day him gwine en up in puss craw
__

If you continually flirt with danger you will eventually get hurt.

When trouble ketch yu, pickny shut fit you
__

People squeeze themselves into tight situations in order to escape trouble.

When yuh en got horse, ride cow.
__

Use the resources available to you.

White mout fowl does eat and den wipe he mout in grass
__

Some people will never show gratitude.

Willin pickny belly full, unwillin pickny belly empty
__

Children who are helpful and willing are better rewarded

Wise monkey know wha tree fi climb
__

Choose your goals or battles carefully

Young bud nu know storm
__

The young and inexperienced don't understand true troubles or hardships.

Yu can' plant yam and reap eddoe
__

Your reward or punishment is in line with your actions

Yu cyaa ride cow an cuss cow kin
__

You shouldn't criticise those on whom you depend.

Yu neva si pop gun kill alligator
__

Don't expect success if you set someone a task that is beyond their ability

Yu nu know how parson get him gown.
__

Don't envy the success of others when you don't know what it cost.

Yu shake man han, yu nu shake him heart
__

Appearances can be deceiving

Yuh borrow money, i mek enemy
__

Debt always comes between friends and family

Yuh caan stan in de road an sih de leak in somebody else house
__

Unless you're close to someone you don't know the true nature of their problems

Zafè kabrit pa zafè mouton.
__

The goat's business is not the sheep's business. Focus on your own affairs instead of the affairs of others.

duck nu lay egg before fowl
__

You can achieve success regardless of your origin or background.

when eskimo have money him buy fridge
__

People with too much money spend it on unnecessary things.

who beg nah get and who nu beg nu want
__

Nobody is getting any.