Patios-NATOR

Many young people (including adults!) have little or no knowlege of the proverbs that parents and grandparents would say to them. The Patios-NATOR is a searchable database of Caribbean folk says and proverbs with 'Queens English' translations for all of us not born in the Caribbean! The Patios-NATOR translation tool provides a fascinating insight into the unique language and vibrant oral cultures of the Caribbean and the African roots of language. Visit this section of the website and never be caught out again by your Grandfather or Grandmother!

Check out what Uncle, Auntie, Granddad and Gran have been saying all along!

"Mi come here fi drink milk, mi noh come here fi count cow".
A reminder to conduct business in a straightforward manner. 

"The higher the monkey climbs the more him expose".
A truly comic image if you've ever been to the zoo, and comforting to any of us whose backs have been used as a stepping-stone for someone else's success. 

"A new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows every corner".
A profoundly witty statement that sums up any number of current situations, including the state of today's music.

 

"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...

"tek smadi mek poppy-show", which means to make fun of someone or shame them, making them look ridiculous. 

"You too red eye"
Meaning, you're too envious.
 

 

"Ya No See It?"
You know? 

"the gal come wine up on me,"
It would mean that the girl came and was dancing up on me. 

"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.

"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. This characterizes the delusional complacency of the upper classes. 

"Me bleach hard lass night"
I partied straight through the night. 

"coo pon dat bwoy"
"Look at that boy" 

"I no come to hear about how horse dead an' cow fat"
It's like telling somebody to knock off with irrelevant details. 

"Me throw me corne 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." 

"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! 

"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. 

"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. 

"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". 

"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". 

"Wanti wanti can't get it, getti getti no want it"
i.e., the Have-nots covet what the Haves take for granted. 

"Trouble no set like rain"
That is, unlike bad weather, we are often not warned by dark clouds on the horizon. 

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. 

"Every mikkle makes a muckle"
Refers to thriftiness, similar to "a penny saved is a penny earned". 

"No cup no broke, no coffee no dash wey".
Even if disaster strikes your home it's always possible that all may not be lost. 

 

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