Caribbean Proverbs and Sayings

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 want a fat mek nightingale foot tan so

Do not prejudge based on appearances

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 fruits ripe

Things are excellent. Things are great

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.

ananci rope tie ananci

When you set traps for others you may trap yourself. The spider's web catches the spider.

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.

backing ah jackass in ah horse race

Picking a losing side

Bad luck wus dan obeah

Misfortune is worse than witchcraft

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.

behin dog is dog, in front dog is mister dog

To gossip behind someone's back but be friendly to their face

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 blanket mek man sleep late

Luxury and comfort make people lazy, complacent, and take things for granted

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

bowl go, packy come

One good turn deserves another

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.

catspradle

To be struck and land awkwardly

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