The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

Message Board Archives

Caribbean Expressions.

 
Headley 2017-01-17 20:52:36 

Recently I heard a Jamaican use the expression "pressure buss pipe" and I found it funny because this was a Trini expression which has become very popular in Ja. Usually it's Jamaican expressions which become popular in Trinidad and other Caribbean countries.

Another Trini expression which has gone Caribbean is the verb "to lime." I find it funny when middle class Jamaicans spell the word "lyme". The Guyanese claim that "lime" is really a Guyanese word.

Most Bajana would not believe the expression "wheel and come again" is not Bajan.

 
nick2020 2017-01-17 22:06:49 

In reply to Headley

I do not believe to lime is Trinidadian. Lionel Richie used it in his song All Night Long. But hey I may be wrong.
I thought wheel and come again came from Jamaica and music when the record was pulled back.

Pressure buss pipe is without a doubt Trini and one of my favourite expressions to use especially when watching sports.

 
black 2017-01-17 22:30:23 

In reply to nick2020

Recently I heard a Jamaican use the expression "pressure buss pipe" and I found it funny because this was a Trini expression which has become very popular in Ja.


How is that Trini?


Another Trini expression which has gone Caribbean is the verb "to lime." I find it funny when middle class Jamaicans spell the word "lyme". The Guyanese claim that "lime" is really a Guyanese word.


This expression is so old in Guyana, I don't think they use it anymore. I might be wrong though.

 
bravos 2017-01-17 23:57:05 

In reply to black

Jes now yuh go ask how 'Trini to de bone is Trini'?? Brother man don't try to change facts 'limin' is as Trini as doubles,,,,dey have dat in Guyana long time too btw? rolleyes

 
problemjay 2017-01-18 00:05:56 

'limin' is definitely a Trini slang and used in many different contexts by Trinis... we going and lime down dey...ah limin with meh gyal...leh we buss ah lime

 
black 2017-01-18 00:18:00 

In reply to problemjay

Dude, it's used in the same way in Guyana.

 
problemjay 2017-01-18 00:20:07 

In reply to black

and there is someone using it the same way in Norway right now. 'Limin' just like 'Bacchanal', just like 'Dingolay' are Trin originated terms. Engrained in TnT lingo since before we even gain Independence

 
problemjay 2017-01-18 00:20:22 

In reply to black

and there is someone using it the same way in Norway right now. What is your point?

'Limin' just like 'Bacchanal', just like 'Dingolay' are Trini originated terms. Engrained in TnT lingo since before we even gain Independence

 
black 2017-01-18 00:23:00 

In reply to bravos

I don't give a damn about doubles, liming has been used in Guyana for decades. None of us know for sure where it originated.

 
black 2017-01-18 00:27:54 

In reply to problemjay

Bacchanal maybe, I have no idea what dingolay is. lol

 
steveo 2017-01-18 05:06:22 

In reply to black

Liming was used since i was a boy over 20 years ago. It has gone out of style but the trinis using like it fresh, could be because they started using it much later

 
PastorTieHead 2017-01-18 06:18:32 

In reply to steveo
Liming was used in BeeGee in the 60's.

 
black 2017-01-18 07:37:23 

In reply to steveo

Dude, I grew up in the 70's and 80's using that expression.

 
bravos 2017-01-18 10:09:25 

In reply to black

Lime done,pick up your empty bottle!

 
Emir 2017-01-18 10:23:34 

In reply to bravos

"Limin" was used in my day and I remember my graandfather also using the term- so it goes back a very long time.

I cannot ever remember any BG-ite- in my days, it wwas BG, ever using that term. Apparently they started using it much later due to usage of the word in popular Trinidad culture- calypso and carnival and on the 1980's through chutney and other music.

Guyanese were always big fans of Trinidad calypso and now a days soca and chutney soca- they have adopted this art form as their own.

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-18 10:36:15 

In reply to steveo

Liming was used since i was a boy over 20 years ago. It has gone out of style but the trinis using like it fresh, could be because they started using it much later


Correct. Liming was always a Guyanese expression. The Titties used it far more frequently now in their creolese lexicon, whereas in Guyana it's seen as old fashion these days.

 
ray 2017-01-18 10:43:26 

kerr yuh skont...Guyana

 
ray 2017-01-18 10:44:22 

In reply to Emir

I remember my great great grandfather using the term lime

 
problemjay 2017-01-18 10:47:30 

Old time Trinidad Calypso from the 1940's have the lyrics containing 'limin'.. so what is the argument between the old men in this forum? smile

 
black 2017-01-18 10:48:04 

All signs point to Trinidad as the origin but I found this.

 
problemjay 2017-01-18 10:48:49 

Next ting you will here the Guyanese in here say steelpan was originated in Guyana too evil

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-18 10:53:10 

In reply to problemjay

Next ting you will here the Guyanese in here say steelpan was originated in Guyana too


Keep y'all limes. We'll take care of the women. lol

 
problemjay 2017-01-18 10:54:08 

In reply to SnoopDog


Keep y'all limes. We'll take care of the women


Yes Trini women will take care of allyuh money twisted

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-18 10:59:14 

In reply to problemjay

Yes Trini women will take care of allyuh money


Lucky for us they're so cheap Brah. lol

 
Kay 2017-01-18 11:06:19 

In reply to SnoopDog

Lucky for us they're so cheap Brah.

Oh fack!!! smile

 
problemjay 2017-01-18 11:10:19 

In reply to SnoopDog


Lucky for us they're so cheap Brah.


Yuh mad dey just take yuh few rum drinking dollars and then send yuh home twisted

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-18 11:15:31 

In reply to problemjay

Yuh mad dey just take yuh few rum drinking dollars and then send yuh home


See, yuh get all vex now. lol

 
problemjay 2017-01-18 11:23:16 

In reply to SnoopDog

ah just feeling sorry for yuh ole man
evil

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-18 11:25:59 

In reply to problemjay

Now yuh see why Tittie women prefer Guyanese men? Y'all so fcuking sour all the time. lol

 
camos 2017-01-18 11:38:53 

don't know who originated the term ,but Trinis popularize 'lime' !
lol

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-18 11:39:48 

In reply to camos

don't know who originated the term ,but Trinis popularize 'lime' !


Next thing, they will claim "vex". lol

 
cricketest 2017-01-18 11:52:11 

correck is right!

after twelve is lunch!

 
camos 2017-01-18 11:58:00 

boy we have oil and oil cayn spoil!

 
powen001 2017-01-18 15:44:58 

In reply to Headley

Most Bajana would not believe the expression "wheel and come again" is not Bajan.


beg your pardon??

Most Bajans know that is directly from Jamaican DanceHall mate...who you hanging around...millenial potheads?
razz

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-18 15:46:13 

In reply to powen001

who you hanging around...millenial potheads?


How dare you Bro? lol

Pass de dutchie pan de leff hand side. lol

 
black 2017-01-18 16:12:16 

In reply to SnoopDog

Dutchie is a pot.

They used dutchie because those kids were too young to sing about cutchie.

 
deanjones 2017-01-18 16:21:10 

Who originate "kerry you skunt"
big grin

 
Khaga 2017-01-18 16:35:55 

In reply to deanjones

You must have inspired someone to ask you to do so..

 
black 2017-01-18 16:44:30 

In reply to deanjones

Uniquely Guyanese.

 
Headley 2017-01-18 18:15:45 

In reply to nick2020

I know the expression , liming, to lime , going to a lime etc in Trinidad since 1973. When I heard it first it was not a new expression. It spread through the Caribbean in the 80s-90s because there was no other English word which was as accurate and flexible at the same time to discuss what we do in the Caribbean.

Lionel Richie used the expression around 1984-6. big grin

 
nick2020 2017-01-18 18:23:51 

In reply to Headley

Lionel Richie used the expression around 1984-6


You think he got it from Trinidad? And then used it in that song?

 
Headley 2017-01-18 18:52:53 

In reply to nick2020

Of course. He was trying to sing 'calypso'. Don't you remember the shirt in the video which Americans associate with 'The Islands'. big grin

 
Emir 2017-01-18 19:06:19 

In reply to nick2020

Well no not directly. Music is global and it is common to borrow from other cultures

 
Runs 2017-01-18 21:37:14 

"Banas like yuh stupidee or wah" - uniquely Guyanese

 
bravos 2017-01-18 23:25:13 

"Yuh coocoo cook"!! You in big trouble..

 
bravos 2017-01-18 23:28:30 

"Gopaul luck ain't Seepaul luck"..

 
Headley 2017-01-19 11:11:38 

In reply to bravos

"Yuh coocoo cook"!! You in big trouble..


Nice! The Jamaican equivalent is "yuh gladbag buss". Especially if you've been having a good time.

For example, not doing your school work, then when the end of term report reaches home "yuh gladbag buss".


On of my favourite Trini expressions is "crapaud smoke yuh pipe". big grin The Jamaican equivalent is "dog nyam yuh supper".

I don't know of a Bajan or Guyanese equivalent. Bravo will explain the pronunciation of crapaud.

 
Headley 2017-01-19 11:14:30 

In reply to bravos

"Gopaul luck ain't Seepaul luck"..


Bajans say "cat luck ain't dog luck"

Jamaicans say "cat and dog nuh have the same luck" or "puss and dog nuh have the same luck".

 
black 2017-01-19 11:20:21 

In reply to Headley

Same sh!t, just tweaked a little.

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-19 11:28:44 

In reply to black

"Watch skunt hey". lol

 
bravos 2017-01-19 11:44:08 

In reply to Headley

All ah we so full of it,we all similar to rass!

'Big gouti small gouti same bullet' (Agouti wild meat)

Meaning,same pain/penalty for everyone...even lolee (fat ting/slim ting.white ting/ black ting,young ting/ole ting etc.).. twisted smile

 
granite 2017-01-19 11:49:05 

"Crapaud smoke yuh pipe".
"Playing dead to ketch corbeau alive"
Both Trini.
lol

 
cricketest 2017-01-19 13:33:11 

don't bring knife to gun fight.

 
Ayenmol 2017-01-19 14:10:58 

In reply to granite

Funny how you take creole sayings and make it the property of non creole islands...like the guy said is one big pot...in fact often times sayings begin from a non native misunderstanding words.

We used buss a lime way before we understood it to mean, aimless walkabout.
We made squash so often that we would have to use the green limes. What we'd do is rub them between a hard surface and our palm to get them soft, this easier to juice. The older ones would tell you doh buss the lime!

It was later they started using the term as an expression. I know it caught on with me cause it was pretty familiar.

Pressure buss pipe is used everywhere...it was big in the VI in the 90's.

 
JohnBull 2017-01-19 15:23:36 

In reply to Headley

Nice! The Jamaican equivalent is "yuh gladbag buss". Especially if you've been having a good time.

For example, not doing your school work, then when the end of term report reaches home "yuh gladbag buss".


I think yuh get this one wrong yuh know my fren ...

gladbag buss means that yuh happy cyaan done, overjoyed to raass.


The equivalent of yuh cuckoo cook in JA would be either dog nyam yuh supper or one of my all time favourites ....yuh get what the duck get.

 
Headley 2017-01-19 16:08:31 

In reply to JohnBull

gladbag buss means that yuh happy cyaan done, overjoyed to raass.


You're right. I give way to superior knowledge and better memory. big grin

 
Headley 2017-01-19 16:10:34 

In reply to powen001

[quote]Most Bajana would not believe the expression "wheel and come again" is not Bajan.


beg your pardon??

Most Bajans know that is directly from Jamaican DanceHall mate...who you hanging around...millenial potheads?



I see Snoopdog answered on behalf of the millennial potheads. big grin

 
black 2017-01-19 16:57:57 

In reply to cricketest

don't bring knife to gun fight.


I think that has origin in America.

 
black 2017-01-19 16:59:31 

My mom used to say, "if yuh nah hear, Yuh guh feel".

 
bravos 2017-01-19 18:00:27 

In reply to black

She ain beat you enough..lol...that's across the board doh ..*who doh hear does feel"..

 
black 2017-01-19 18:08:12 

In reply to bravos

Do fuh do nah obeah. lol

 
black 2017-01-19 18:14:05 

In reply to bravos

Ya skin yuh skunt!!! lol lol lol

That's totally Guyanese.

 
Da-Vincy 2017-01-19 18:57:50 

"Since me eye dey ah me knee" (Jamaican for "for as long as I can remember")

 
Runs 2017-01-19 19:16:38 

Left some fuh bambai - Put away for a rainy day - Gt to dah bone lol

 
Headley 2017-01-19 19:39:52 

In reply to Runs

Left some fuh bambai


Jamaican too. My mom is 84. She just confirmed it. big grin

 
SnoopDog 2017-01-19 19:43:55 

In reply to black

"After laff a cry." lol

"Yuh hard ears or wha"? lol

 
black 2017-01-19 19:52:08 

In reply to SnoopDog

Yuh head hard. lol

 
bravos 2017-01-19 20:26:00 

In reply to black

yah skin yuh skunt



"All skin teet is nuh smile"

 
JahJah 2017-01-19 20:38:06 

fling stone in a hog pen. who bawl first get lick.

 
black 2017-01-19 20:44:22 

Mouth open, story jump out.

 
black 2017-01-19 21:53:42 

Batty and po - two people that are seen together all the time. lol

 
embsallie 2017-01-19 22:03:13 

In reply to Headley

Whose expression is that?.

"mout' open story jump out"

 
DukeStreet 2017-01-20 00:51:12 

Yuh cyan suck cane and whistle

 
DukeStreet 2017-01-20 00:52:16 

If yuh rush de brush yuh gon get dab

 
DukeStreet 2017-01-20 00:52:57 

learn fuh bear yuh chaffe

 
Walco 2017-01-20 01:42:57 

In reply to Headley

Heard someone in Jamaica use the term "Leggo Beast" a few months back. Never heard that term outside Barbados before.

 
JahJah 2017-01-20 06:06:00 

In reply to Walco

Isn't that the title of an old Steele Pulse song?

 
che 2017-01-20 06:45:45 

In reply to JahJah

"Leggo beasts" "skettel" is yardie...

Beyoncé use Baje "wukkin up" in har songs ent..tits copy dat tuh

lol lol lol

 
Headley 2017-01-20 13:07:30 

In reply to Walco

Yes man "leggo beast" was well used in Jamaica when I was a boy. It described any foolish running around, which is what boys often do. Similar (not the same) as the aimless Bajan "Punka's donkey".



BTW my favourite short, functional Bajan expression is "ope-tin". I will bet no one except Bajans could guess what "ope-tin" means. big grin

 
pelon 2017-01-20 13:15:58 

In reply to Headley

BTW my favourite short, functional Bajan expression is "ope-tin". I will bet no one except Bajans could guess what "ope-tin" means.
lol lol lol lol lol

 
sudden 2017-01-20 13:18:33 

In reply to pelon

get it right...ope-it-in

 
bravos 2017-01-20 13:21:30 

'Wajang','Jamette' (Trini for Skettel,leggo-beast)

Muddies/Snoop yuh gotta come good to bring out de Jamette in dem Trini gyals..

 
sudden 2017-01-20 13:27:56 

In reply to pelon

my grandmother used to say-
mad as Miss Carter's cat,

you think this come like how Tom got he dog,

he int worth shite when the gully out or

she int worth wuh Paddy shot at

 
black 2017-01-20 13:29:29 

Yuh mek me Han fall = disappointed

 
black 2017-01-20 13:31:09 

Duh something before something duh yuh lol

 
bravos 2017-01-20 13:32:01 

"behind god back" ...yuh living far far away in de bush etc..

 
bravos 2017-01-20 13:33:19 

'do so ain like so'.. do on to others as you would like them to do onto you..

 
black 2017-01-20 13:33:24 

In reply to bravos

I'm familiar with that one.

 
bravos 2017-01-20 13:34:07 

In reply to black

and I familiar with 'kerry yuh skunt'.. smile

DO something before someting do you big here too! cool

 
black 2017-01-20 13:36:04 

Hard head mek sof behind. lol

 
Headley 2017-01-20 13:38:25 

In reply to sudden

get it right...ope-it-in


I am always willing to give way to superior knowledge.

I agree it is not ope-tin. It is ope-it-in. big grin

 
black 2017-01-20 13:52:32 

In reply to bravos

Tek yuh time and peel yuh pine.

 
Headley 2017-01-20 18:41:30 

"ope-it-in" is Bajan for open it.

A delivery man told me, "I found the envelope and when I ope-it-in the key was missing." When the man repeated it I realised he was not tongue-tied, so I asked my Bajan contact and learnt about "ope-it-in". big grin

 
black 2017-01-20 19:04:16 

In reply to Headley

That was my guess but I wasn't sure. lol

Sounds like something Che would say. lol

 
camos 2017-01-20 19:23:17 

give lazy suck! lol

 
FuzzyWuzzy 2017-01-20 19:34:33 

In reply to Headley

add to that un-it-do

 
powen001 2017-01-20 19:40:37 

In reply to SnoopDog

Pass de dutchie pan de leff hand side. lol


NOW yuh talking!!

also Brits of Yard heritage. big grin

 
FuzzyWuzzy 2017-01-20 19:49:41 

turn down de radiogram or lower de music

 
Headley 2017-01-20 21:20:14 

In reply to black

Sounds like something Che would say.


Wonder how come he hasn't showed up yep? big grin

 
Headley 2017-01-20 21:21:53 

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

add to that un-it-do


Only if yuh tell mi where I can visit to hear it when I'm in Bim. big grin

 
Headley 2017-01-21 18:45:02 

Jamaicans say, "cockroach nuh business ina fowl fight". What is the equivalent across the Caribbean?

 
pelon 2017-01-21 19:13:25 

In reply to sudden


my grandmother used to say-
mad as Miss Carter's cat,

you think this come like how Tom got he dog,

he int worth shite when the gully out or

she int worth wuh Paddy shot at


man you have me here smiling. Don't know any of them, but brings back old days with my paternal grandmother and her sayings:

"she aint worth two duck feathers"
"he is a real poppit" (mid 70's to 80's)
"he is a real johnny come lately doah"
and one that became my personal life motto "son, don't hang yuh hat higher than you can reach"

 
POINT 2017-01-21 19:56:34 

I do not know if this was cited before ,but it is said in SVG .

" CRAPAUD SMOKE HIS/HER PIPE "

This means that someone had an untimely death .

 
Headley 2017-01-22 21:49:21 

In reply to pelon

"he is a real poppit" (mid 70's to 80's)

This one is still very popular in Bim. Kinda describes Sudden.


"son, don't hang yuh hat higher than you can reach"

This one was very popular in Jamaica when I was a boy.


This one below was very popular in my part of Jamaica. Don't know how popular it was in other parts of Ja.

"High seat kill Miss Thomas puss (cat)." big grin

 
Headley 2017-01-22 21:52:08 

In reply to POINT

Mentioned that one (from Trinidad) at the start of the thread. big grin

 
cricketest 2017-01-22 22:01:45 

if the milk turns out to be sour, I'm not the kinda puss to drink it.

if greedy wait, hot will cool!

 
camos 2017-01-22 22:04:59 

when puss belly full potato has skin.

 
camos 2017-01-22 22:06:27 

sorry fi maga dog, maga dog turn around and bite you.


if a egg mi inna the red.

 
black 2017-01-22 22:20:20 

In reply to camos

Give black his jacket.

Wasn't that a saying?

 
bravos 2017-01-22 22:46:31 

In reply to Headley

'cockroach have to stay out fowl fight' (else dey might get eat)

'Two man rat cyah live in d same hole'

 
camos 2017-01-22 23:11:43 

Puss and dog nuh have the same luck.

 
Headley 2017-01-23 10:12:05 

In reply to cricketest

if the milk turns out to be sour, I'm not the kinda puss to drink it.

if greedy wait, hot will cool!



Never heard the first one before.

The second one is popular in Bim.

 
Headley 2017-01-23 10:15:17 

In reply to camos

sorry fi maga dog, maga dog turn around and bite you.


if a egg mi inna the red.


Puss and dog nuh have the same luck.


All three well known and used a lot in Ja. First one in Bob Marley song and second one in a early (70s) DJ music.

 
Headley 2017-01-23 10:16:43 

In reply to black

Give black his jacket.


We know "Give Jack his jacket".

"Give Black his jacket" would have to be in your head. big grin

 
Headley 2017-01-23 10:22:43 

In reply to bravos

'Two man rat cyah live in one hole'

I remembered that one yesterday.


These three from T'Dad

"She trying to throw sand in mi rice." A female friend from Arima told me that one. I suspect it's very old.

"Have cocoa in the sun".

"Hang his Jack".

 
pelon 2017-01-23 10:26:06 

In reply to Headley

One smart dead at two smart door

 
POINT 2017-01-23 10:31:53 

In reply to Headley

Thanks for informing me , I think that
young folks these days do not use it
much .

 
black 2017-01-23 10:33:08 

In reply to Headley

We know "Give Jack his jacket".

"Give Black his jacket" would have to be in your head.


lol lol lol

 
camos 2017-01-23 11:09:49 

In reply to Headley

one one coco full basket.

lol


don't give him basket to carry water.

trouble take you , pickney shut fit you.

 
cricketest 2017-01-23 11:15:03 

if at first you do not succeed, buy her a stronger drink!

 
black 2017-01-23 11:18:52 

In reply to cricketest

Yuh sound like Bill Cosby.

 
pelon 2017-01-23 11:35:10 

Might be here already: Hard ears yuh won't hear...own way yuh gine feel

 
CWWeekes 2017-01-23 11:48:03 

Mi granny used to use this one a lot:

"De one who shyte in a de pass (path) nuh remember it; a de one who come step ina it"

Describes situation where one inherits a problem.

 
camos 2017-01-23 12:00:43 

everyday bucket a go a well, one day the bottom will fall out.

 
black 2017-01-23 12:12:27 

One one dutty build dam.

 
cricketest 2017-01-23 12:45:31 

if the gloves don't fit, you must acquit. big grin

 
black 2017-01-23 12:48:50 

In reply to cricketest

if the gloves don't fit, you must acquit.


Yea, and that fella acted like his hands couldn't fit in those gloves. lol

 
Headley 2017-01-23 13:58:07 

In reply to pelon

One smart dead at two smart door


Love this one. Haven't heard it in a while.


On a slightly different matter. I gave an old lady a lift one day from the Redman's Village gas station and we got talking. She said her daughter was going around with a fellow but her daughter had to break it off because the fellow was too smart.

It was said without a hint of a smile, really dry humour. big grin

 
Headley 2017-01-23 14:02:40 

In reply to camos

trouble take you , pickney shut fit you.


Never heard this one.



If it's romantic trouble - in T'Dad they say 'yuh have tabanka' or "yuh climb the tabanka tree". big grin

 
pelon 2017-01-23 14:07:55 

In reply to Headley

bajan context being "smartman" (Trump, con) and not "a smart person" (Headley, erudite)

 
CWWeekes 2017-01-23 14:10:01 

"Parson christen him pickney fus (first)"

"tief nuh like fi see tief carry long bag"

"Jackass seh di worl no level"

"horse shouldn't be too proud fi no wan carry him own grass"

"When trouble a come shell nah blow"

"Time longer than rope"

 
Headley 2017-01-23 15:07:48 

In reply to CWWeekes

I used to hear the first three a lot when I was a boy.

The last two are new to me.

This thread was started as fun but based on the contributions it could be serving as a collection. big grin

 
CWWeekes 2017-01-23 15:26:12 

In reply to Headley
Yes very interesting thread. Once again shows how much we have in common.

To interpret the last two sayings:

-You should not feel above doing anything that will be to your benefit/advancement.

- very often one gets no warning when trouble is coming your way. The shell refers to the conch shell, I presume.
big grin big grin

 
Headley 2017-01-23 15:50:27 

In reply to CWWeekes

Once again shows how much we have in common.


Sure does. Earlier in the thread Runs from Guyana used the term "bumbai" for food put away to be eaten later and was convinced it was totally GT. I was really surprised because that was a common term in eastern Jamaica where I grew up.

18 months ago in Antigua I hear a female Antiguan colleague talk about behaving like a "sensae fowl" you could imagine my surprise. big grin

 
camos 2017-01-23 15:53:54 

In reply to Headley

chicken merry hawk dey near.

lol

 
Headley 2017-01-23 15:56:59 

In reply to pelon

"a smart person" (Headley, erudite)


One of the benefits of spending a long time in the company of really smart folks is that it makes you realise your limitations. big grin

 
pelon 2017-01-23 17:38:20 

In reply to Headley

lol lol lol lol If i think about my limitations, I would not get out of bed. smile so many....

lol lol redface redface

 
sudden 2017-01-23 18:34:58 

In reply to pelon

More my granmur uses to say


Yuh think i mekkin ground fuh monkey to run pun

Monkey handling gun

tekkin time int laziness

Time longer than twine

He doan care if Good Friday come pun a Sunday

My bread fruit hang low

Head int ment fuh hat alone

Scornful dogs does eat dirty pudding

Wat int ketch yuh int pass yuh

Good looks caan spend

Every skin teet in nuh laff

Um tek two hans to clap

Rat mout does sell he tail

Tek a little and live long

A eyeful int a bellyful

Who help yuh buy a big guts horse doan help yuh feed um

She pushin pancart

 
openning 2017-01-23 19:44:05 

I am not sure if these were posted before;
Don't hang your hat, higher than you can reach it
Don't bite off more than you can chew
If you go to bed with dogs, you awake with fleas.

 
Headley 2017-01-24 07:06:42 

In reply to sudden


My bread fruit hang low


Scornful dogs does eat dirty pudding


Who help yuh buy a big guts horse doan help yuh feed um

She pushin pancart


Never heard any of these before.

Does "She pushin pancart" mean she's taking her business to the streets?

 
Norm 2017-01-24 07:09:12 

If you go to bed with dogs, you awake with fleas.


"If you go [to] crab dance, you mus get mud[dy]", per Guyanese.

"Not one daag name Paampi!" (A thief's favorite excuse.)

"Moon ah run till day ketch am" (Your day of reckoning will come.)

"Hard guava season" (Tough times)

"If you fine gole ring ah dance hall, ah deh you guh lass am" (Advice about choosing your boyfriend or girlfriend)

These two (one really) for adults only. You have been warned!:

"When man kack hard, he hart saff saff ..." (People are nice when they want something, and ...

"When man kack saff, he hart hard hard!" (Surely needs no explaining!)

 
Headley 2017-01-24 07:10:33 

In reply to openning and Sudden

What about one of the best from Bim " A sheep head a week better dan a cow head a year?"

This is great for all kind of instructive reasons.

 
black 2017-01-24 07:38:50 

Mek sure nah cock sure

Sorry fi maaga dawg, maaga dawg tun round bite yuh

Throw mi carn, mi nah call no fowl

 
black 2017-01-24 07:46:46 

Fatten cow for butcher

 
Norm 2017-01-24 07:52:57 

In reply to black

Fatten cow for butcher

smile

Your friend will be on your case about this one.

 
black 2017-01-24 09:13:28 

Neva drap di bone fi ketch di shadow


I have no idea where this originated, just stumbled upon it.

 
bravos 2017-01-24 09:46:57 

In reply to Headley

"What miss yuh ain pass yuh" (your time would come,good or bad)

 
bravos 2017-01-24 09:50:24 

"What sweet in goat mout does sour in de bam bam"

 
che 2017-01-24 12:22:32 

Tacatoo

copy right TheTrail... onli takeaway from cringe worthy Solutions thread ...Baje to de bone!!! lol lol lol

 
Headley 2017-01-24 17:23:52 

Mature audiences only. This one from Trinidad.

"A standing cock has no conscience."

 
bravos 2017-01-24 21:49:41 

In reply to Headley

Yep and that's true!!! Even my dad used to say that when trying to emphasize a point! smile

Standing cock jus wanna burst!! He would leave you on your own to seek that out,he uses mind control and his head,beware!! smile

 
ProWI 2017-01-25 01:52:46 

Which island is this one from?

"Piss or get off di pot"

 
Headley 2017-01-25 04:55:17 

In reply to bravos

big grin big grin

 
Headley 2017-02-16 08:51:38 

Bathe wid blue


Is this a reference to bathing with blue soap? big grin


BTW Mr. Admin I think this thread is worthy of being pinned as a source for Caribbean Studies.

 
Rastaman 2017-02-16 09:13:15 

In reply to Headley

BTW Mr. Admin I think this thread is worthy of being pinned as a source for Caribbean Studies.


Yes nice thread, just started to read it.

trouble nuh set like rain

wey eye nuh si, heart nuh lept

young bud nuh know storm

never si come si

rain a fall but dutty tuff

god naw sleep

chicken merry and hawk deh near

fire deh a muss muss tail him think a cool breeze

 
black 2017-02-16 09:35:07 

In reply to Rastaman

never si come si


Used a lot in Guyana. lol

 
bravos 2017-02-16 09:43:46 

'Yuh eat parrot ass'

blah blah blah blah...talking too much..

 
sgtdjones 2017-02-16 10:13:33 

In reply to SnoopDog

That's because ur fat ugly muddie women are not in demand and dropping the price ... lol lol

 
sgtdjones 2017-02-16 10:15:47 

Some I found on the Internet ... lol

10. Wuz de scene?/Wham? – What’s up?

9. Ah did had was to.. – I had to..

8. Family, watch me for a minute nah – Can I please talk to you for a second?

7. Moo nah boy/Gone from here – Leave me alone

6. We bussin’ a lime dis Friday, wha yuh for? – We’re going to chill this Friday, what do you want to do?

5. He real doltish boy – He’s really stupid

4. She’s a bess ting – She’s really hot

3. Das meh real horse/bredrin – That’s my good friend

2. She real toting/She digging a horrors – She’s carrying a lot of emotional baggage

1. Doh hot yuh head – Don’t worry about it

 
bravos 2017-02-16 10:46:45 

In reply to sgtdjones

Who dis 'new' Trini? And most of those aren't sayings,it's just slang talk and bad English...

Yuh unnastan? Do you understand.

You confuflin de ting now man...

Talking about sayings with hidden undertones and associations..not just dotish talk..lol you eh easy nah..(you are something else)...lol

 
Headley 2017-02-16 10:51:40 

In reply to Rastaman

Yes I am surprised by the amount of expressions we share, without being aware that we share so many.

Heard this one from my mom recently.

"Since Whappy kill Phillop" meaning (for non-Jamaicans) since time immemorial.

 
black 2017-02-16 11:08:32 

Mout mek fi talk.

 
Tryangle 2017-02-16 12:27:00 

We got more than a few interesting terms from up these parts. Wonder if any of them have Caribbean relatives:

Kangabat - a woman of subpar beauty

Longtail - pretty single woman

Micin' - (pronounced mice'in) daydreaming

Ohgly - ugly to the extreme

Pacific - specific

Portagee - Portuguese

Ranks - smells terrible

Chingas - Wow/Dang/Sunuva...

 
black 2017-02-16 12:30:21 

In reply to Tryangle

Kangabat - a woman of subpar beauty


I thought it was Jaggabat. lol

 
Tryangle 2017-02-16 12:52:40 

In reply to black

Heh, well maybe they are related. There after all is a sizeable population of West Indians up here, so maybe we adopted the term and put a little Aussie spin on it

 
Priapus 2017-02-16 13:34:11 

In reply to Tryangle

Ranks - smells terrible


In the Yaad, isn't this spelt as Wrenk?

 
openning 2017-02-16 21:10:40 

Rain falling, thunder rolling, The devil and his wife fighting for the Coucou stick.

 
che 2017-02-16 21:30:44 

In reply to openning

Dawg iz

rain falling, sun shining, de devil and he wife fighting fuh de cou cou stick


lol lol lol

 
openning 2017-02-16 22:58:48 

In reply to che

Thats when you been away from bajans for so long.
Thanks Bro, you keep it real

lol lol

 
Headley 2017-02-17 11:25:38 

In reply to openning

Another unintended benefit of this thread. Helps you to keep speaking pure Bajan. big grin

 
bravos 2017-02-17 12:37:44 

In reply to openning

'rain fallin, monkey marridin'..

 
imusic 2017-02-17 13:03:50 

In reply to Headley

openning counts ice fishing and line dancing as his passions now

 
black 2017-02-17 13:06:38 

What about superstitions? lol

Can't sweep at night, walking under ladders, etc...

 
bravos 2017-02-17 13:14:37 

In reply to black

Surprised you didn't reserve that for a whole other thread title,sounds about right.. smile

 
imusic 2017-02-17 13:17:24 

SUCK MEH SOUCOUYANT

 
openning 2017-02-17 13:35:22 

In reply to imusic

openning counts ice fishing and line dancing as his passions now

I am a soul man
Man I see Bajans when I am at home, or if I attend the annual Independent dance, I am out of the loop.

 
granite 2017-02-17 15:42:40 

I remember once I was having a hard time fixing the clutch on a friend's car,I blurted out,"dis is pure fuckries".It was an English bloke and he nearly pissed himself laughing,he'd never heard that before. lol

 
Tryangle 2017-02-17 16:08:28 

In reply to granite

Impressive - the English are usually the masters of twisted spins on profanities big grin

 
Norm 2017-02-17 22:18:29 

Tank de lard we 'ave one thread here bout Caribbean tings, while de cunumunus busing down Trump an' Yankee life.

Some Caribbean people been playin' Yankee lang before fowl cack get teet, an' since dem larn to wear can-can an' drive desota. Dis lil Caribbean thread nah important to dem. Dem fahget seh when you go a crab dance you muss get mud.

When dem go back home, dem fahget how rain ah sound pon zinc sheet, and dem ah jump an' run when a lil rain buss down! An dem ah talk bout how de place muddy an' ah smell like fowl shit. But then dem turn around an' want organic food!

An dem ah talk big about big match dem see pan TV, but friken to go play hard ball cricket pan de side line dam. Dem friken baakle bore dem foot and ball gun boonghi dem head, an' how dem insurance nah cover "boonghi"!

Anyway, all you nah fahget dis lil thread! Ahbidiss ah Caribbean people!

 
Headley 2017-02-18 08:51:45 

In reply to Norm

ball gun boonghi dem head


Translation please. big grin big grin big grin

 
Headley 2017-02-18 14:53:39 

In reply to imusic

openning counts ice fishing and line dancing as his passions now


Yuh trying to get mi in trouble. "Mi nuh have blue boots fi climb 12 steps or mi nuh have blue boots fi climb courthouse steps." big grin

Grateful if a Jamaican who knows the saying could help me.

 
Norm 2017-02-18 17:17:49 

In reply to Headley

ball gun boonghi dem head

Translation please.

"Boonghi" (used both as a verb and noun) is bump, usually on the head, that results from a blow, such as from a bat, stick, ball, head butt, etc. A very useful word for young boys!

 
Headley 2017-02-18 19:06:07 

In reply to Norm

Thanks. Don't recall hearing it before. Useful for young boys indeed!

In Ja we used the term 'cocoa' to describe the bump. Cocoa meaning what Trinis and Bajens call eddoes.

 
granite 2017-02-23 11:42:10 

In reply to Headley
Sounds as if yuh telling we off for calling it eddoes.

lol lol lol

 
Headley 2017-02-23 18:20:05 

In reply to granite

No, not at all. "Yuh si mi dyin trial," - expressing shock/surprise/sarcasm to find oneself in an awkward situation.

The use of the word cocoa by Jamaicans to describe a vegetable or tuber is confusing since as everyone knows cocoa also has a more well known meaning.

By the time schoolboys start to describe a swelling inflicted to the head as a cocoa, well as yuh say in Trini ... "is mas".

BTW one of my female Trini friends who is a teacher got this from one her students:

"What is to is, mus is." big grin

 
Headley 2017-02-26 12:36:04 

"Pooch back" is a very useful Bajan phrase. All over the Caribbean we have "back back" but "pooch back" means that you "back back" with your posterior stuck out. In this Carnival season you can see the utility.

A useful phrase with no short English equivalent. big grin

 
bravos 2017-02-26 19:18:48 

In reply to Headley

Dem Bajans corny yuh hear..awwww dey too cute...lol..

 
bravos 2017-02-26 19:21:35 

In reply to Headley

"Friends does kerry yuh buh dey doh bring yuh back"

 
Headley 2017-02-26 20:02:00 

In reply to bravos

Yes dem Bajans have some interesting ones. As I remember dem I will bring dem out.


"Friends does kerry yuh buh dey doh bring yuh back"

This sounds like one that all parents of teenagers should have on standby. big grin

 
pelon 2017-02-26 20:12:43 

In reply to bravos

Dem Bajans corny yuh hear..awwww dey too cute...lol..
man why you patronize we so? lol lol lol lol lol




Lawd, ef even yuh juk out meh eye I still know you.
Translation: do as you wish, you can't hide.

 
Headley 2017-02-27 17:27:36 

In reply to pelon

Lawd, ef even yuh juk out meh eye I still know you.


This one is new to me. "juk out meh eye" seems to be a Caribbean wide phrase though.

 
bravos 2017-02-27 17:35:46 

In reply to Headley

Yeah that's a big one..

 
bravos 2017-02-27 17:37:31 

In reply to pelon

Bim is meh second home and I is a man does always give family fatigue (light hearted banter)

 
bravos 2017-02-27 17:40:36 

In reply to Headley

"you giving meh fatigue" Light hearted teasing ole talk bout anything,girls anything,'fatigue' can also be delivered in a flattering kinda way...

"yuh know Headley have all de girls"


But you may not want others around to know that at the time. smile


Ah was jes givin dem Bajan some fatigue.. cool

 
Headley 2017-02-27 20:44:00 

In reply to bravos

Yes "giving fatigue" is true Trini.big grin Closely related to "ole talk" but not "mauvais lang". big grin

 
bravos 2017-02-27 20:57:53 

In reply to Headley

Also related to 'mamaguay' ..

"Yuh mamaguyaing meh boy"

Like if you call a short man 'tall man',a thick ting 'slim'..or tell a fella how nice his wrecked car or bad work looking or sumn.. lol

Even if you fooling somebody or simply laughing at them for any reason could be a mamaguay......

 
XDFIX 2017-02-28 23:55:12 

Frigging is as Yardie as it gets!

Nuff niceness here that Readers Bureau can build a story around!

 
XDFIX 2017-02-28 23:57:40 

In reply to bravos

Yardie sey nuh fatigue mi - meaning don't provoke me!

 
XDFIX 2017-03-01 00:00:16 

In reply to bravos

'Yuh eat parrot ass'

blah blah blah blah...talking too much..


Yardie sey - yuh nyam fowl batty!

 
Headley 2017-03-01 07:55:19 

In reply to XDFIX

yuh nyam fowl batty!


Last time I heard that one I was a pre-teen. big grin

 
black 2017-03-01 10:30:27 

In reply to XDFIX

Yardie sey nuh fatigue mi - meaning don't provoke me!


Isn't that everywhere?

 
Headley 2017-03-01 12:58:51 

In reply to black

I cannot speak for everywhere but I have not heard 'fatigue' used like that in Grenada, St. Vincent, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, BVI, Grand Cayman or St. Kitts. big grin big grin big grin

 
Phillip-3 2017-03-02 01:19:06 

In reply to Headley

Former Kingston Mayor (on billboards)

"Take your garbage and stuff it"

 
Headley 2017-03-02 05:46:03 

In reply to Phillip-3

"Same knife weh stick goat stick sheep". Saw this one in the Jamaica Observer today.

Seems to go through cycles of popularity. May depend on how many goats are available. big grin

 
XDFIX 2017-03-02 11:05:37 

In reply to black

In fact, Jamaicans sey nuh fitigue

 
bravos 2017-03-02 11:07:03 

In reply to Headley

Trini version.. "Big gouti small gouti same bullet" (Agouti/wildmeat/any meat!)

smile

 
bravos 2017-03-02 11:08:23 

In reply to XDFIX

Blessings to you oh humble servant... cool

 
Phillip-3 2017-03-02 22:02:08 

" Every hoe have him stick a bush"


" If man nuh dead don't call him duppy"


" A we show you weh water walk go a pumpkin gut"


"When banana waan dead im shoot"

 
bravos 2017-03-02 22:11:49 

If Trump "tell yuh to run,stan up (stay still),..and if he tell yuh to stan up..RUN"!!

Something one would say about unreliable and inconsistent people..

 
bravos 2017-03-02 22:19:48 

'Crapaud foot' Trini for ugly illegible handwriting..

'Crapaud going to church' Dress up but wearing buss up shoes and tacky dress clothes etc.

'Dog ears' Unkept books with the corners creased over..usually school books..

 
Headley 2017-03-07 11:20:02 

In reply to bravos

In Jamaica we have "crab foot" for ineligible writing. "Dog ears" is the same. The others are not known to me.


This is one from Bim.

"Yuh can hide an buy land but yuh can't hide an wuk it."

Could be applicable to a certain chairman of selectors. big grin

 
bravos 2017-03-07 12:33:08 

In reply to Headley


'Crapaud/crab foot,dog ears'...Lol nice..we all dotish alike..loool



"IF"..wah yuh tellin meh bout if ??..."If shit was sugar" smile

 
Headley 2017-03-12 14:10:46 

In reply to bravos

"See mi an come live wid mi a (are) two different things."

"From Adam was a lad."

 
BeatDball 2017-03-12 15:04:50 

I was away for a year...separated! But, my estranged wife tek me back...as soon as she hear that meh girly is a 21yo new amsterdamese - chick 30 years my junior!! Dont get jealous fellas...but, how about these guyneez slang/expression/idioms: Bang on (bangahn); Lime/liming (tree-knees n small islanders also use it); easy like, Tea & Water; selling like, Hot Cakes...run come quick/fast - common with jewmaycans N guyneez!

 
Headley 2017-03-12 16:29:24 

In reply to BeatDball

I was away for a year...separated! But, my estranged wife tek me back...as soon as she hear that meh girly is a 21yo new amsterdamese - chick 30 years my junior!!


Congrats partner. Meh glad yuh wife tek yuh back. She should a lef yuh mek the 21year old kill yuh rats.


easy like, Tea & Water


Use the above in a sentence so I can be sure I understood what yuh wrote.

 
bravos 2017-03-12 16:57:57 

In reply to Headley

"See mi an come live wid mi a (are) two different things."


Same here!

"From Adam was a lad."


"From Adam"

"From when king hatchet was a hammer"

 
bravos 2017-03-12 16:58:41 

In reply to Headley

"When cock get teet" (Like it would never happen,very unlikely)..

 
Headley 2017-03-12 19:45:06 

In reply to bravos

"When cock get teet"

Same in Ja. But it's a long time since I heard that one.


Here's a Bajan for you. big grin

"Brek fuh yuself" which means, see about yourself or take care of your interests, don't be concerned with the interest of others.

I don't know that there is a similar expression in the other Caribbean countries.

 
johndom90 2017-03-12 22:53:13 

Tt
In the 60's....instead of cussing......oui foote...

Or. 'Water more than flour'.....could be interpreted many ways.


'More in the mortar than the pestle'...theres more to see.


' making track for agouti to run' ....u eh the real deal... cool

 
bravos 2017-03-13 14:51:12 

In reply to Headley

Lol dem lillyputians soo funnny.. lol

"I have no horse in dat race" (doh bizniss,not your concern,neutral or simply don't care)

 
bravos 2017-03-13 14:51:27 

In reply to johndom90

cool cool

yuh is ah fart smeller,,,oh gosh oh gosh ah ah mean ah smart fella!! smile

 
johndom90 2017-03-13 18:14:50 

In reply to bravos

lol... cool

 
Headley 2017-03-13 18:24:47 

In reply to johndom90

'Water more than flour'


In Jamaica (as far as I know) we use it to mean "things are not going according to plan".

In Ja we say "Chip nuh fly far from block" which is the same as the English "The apple does not fall far from the tree".

 
Headley 2017-03-13 18:26:24 

In reply to bravos

lillyputians


Boy yuh funny, but yuh may not be able to go back to Bim. big grin big grin big grin

 
bravos 2017-03-13 20:27:18 

In reply to Headley

All I have to do is wear a lil rainbow colours and I should be able to enter covertly,notice I chose my words very carefully,didn't wanna risk saying "slip in",don't wanna send any mix signals to our dear friends do we..lol.. smile


Oh btw..."who vex lorse"..

 
Headley 2017-03-13 20:57:11 

In reply to bravos

"who vex lorse".


Deading wid laff. big grin big grin big grin

 
bravos 2017-03-13 21:06:04 

In reply to Headley

"Dat pelau calling meh name" "Dat bake and Shark callin meh name" Or any food or anything you see smell and like etc for that matter!! smile

 
Benjie 2017-03-13 21:47:08 

"Trouble does come pan horse back and leff pan turtle back" heard that from a Bahamian taxi driver several years ago. He then proceeded to tell me about his experiences with his ex wife.

Think the Antigua expression for skettel is dutty foot

"Wash u foot an come" everyone is invited

"more in the mortar than the pestle"

 
Headley 2017-03-13 22:03:05 

In reply to bravos

Yes ah remember dat one. Yuh stirring up memories. big grin

 
Headley 2017-03-13 22:08:51 

In reply to Benjie

"Trouble does come pan horse back and leff pan turtle back"

Never heard that one before. Good to remember if yuh get put out. big grin

"Wash u foot an come" everyone is invited
I believe this one is used in other islands but I can't remember where. Maybe Jamaica. We need an oldster to confirm.

Sketel is 1960-70s Jamaican slang. Now Caribbean slang.

"more in the mortar than the pestle"

This is proper English. Yuh teacher would give good marks fuh this. big grin

 
BeatDball 2017-03-14 08:15:32 

In reply to Headley U nyam parrot batty?!

 
BeatDball 2017-03-14 08:19:52 

In reply to Headley Yes, yes my good headley...tea N water; remember using it a lot as a lil bai in the 70s on leg 1 island. lemme see...here's a scenario: a group of lil bais liming N one of them asks, 'beatdball, u think u can beat headley?" Since i was a badjohn in those days, my reply would have been, 'steups, like tea N watah'!! Get it?! That expression is equivalent to the american - piece-a-cake, a walk in the park or like taking candy from a baby!

 
BeatDball 2017-03-14 08:25:10 

Meh amerindian fren used this one - cat eat u dinner! how about this one: piglet ask mom, why meh mouth so long! My estranged wife used this one: what falls from above will hit u shoulder then d ground or something like that...she still vexed N dont want to elaborate!
wink

 
bravos 2017-03-14 10:27:56 

In reply to BeatDball

Yeah we have "yuh eat parrot ass"

But you sure these not from Bim? lol..

cat eat u dinner! how about this one: piglet ask mom, why meh mouth so long!

 
bravos 2017-03-14 10:31:03 

In reply to Headley

"Like goat shit on ah hill" Not too stable... smile

 
BeatDball 2017-03-14 11:01:59 

Dont overdo the do! Dont be extravagant. Jewmaycan chic that i used to date, died laffing when i used it!

 
BeatDball 2017-03-14 11:03:54 

In reply to bravos Meh primary school teacher, Miss Carmen Peters of Primary/Standard 2, rebuked me on my handwriting - what's that? Chicken scratch!!!

sad smile

 
Headley 2017-03-14 15:39:28 

In reply to BeatDball

piglet ask mom, why meh mouth so long!


In Ja it continues like this.

"Yuh a grow, yuh will know". big grin

 
Headley 2017-03-14 15:41:22 

In reply to bravos

"Like goat shit on ah hill"


Sounds agrarian - maybe from Lopinot or Paramin. big grin

 
bravos 2017-03-15 16:10:10 

In reply to BeatDball

'Crapaud foot' here! (handwriting).. smile

 
bravos 2017-03-15 16:15:38 

In reply to Headley

You may have a point!! A damn good one at that! cool



"Higher monkey climb,de more he show he ass" Trump.

"Monkey know which tree to climb" . Saying a person knows who to mess with and who not to mess with..

'Monkey see monkey do' . 'Follow fashion'..

It's all about the monkeys,it's Trump day!
smile

 
johndom90 2017-03-15 19:02:48 

In reply to bravos

Intersting comparisons, similarities through the islands that.

Tt

' never see come see '

' wipe u beak like fowl'....after u eat...whatevet... lol

 
bravos 2017-03-15 19:43:17 

In reply to johndom90

Yeah 'never see come see' big here too.. cool

Wiping your beak..I understand it as after yuh eat yuh belly full,even if is ladies yuh eat! twisted

"watch him he wiping he beak,he eat he belly full"!! Trini shit talk.. smile

 
Headley 2017-03-15 19:47:56 

In reply to bravos

I used to wonder how come we have so many "monkey" expressions in Ja when we have no monkeys. big grin

Yeah 'never see come see' big here too.
Big in Ja too. big grin

 
black 2017-03-15 19:51:20 

In reply to Headley

Popular in Guyana too.

I think someone here said it before.

 
Benjie 2017-03-16 16:58:13 

My Granny use to say " Wah a joke fu chaffo ah death for Crappo " What a driver ( chauffeur) considers a joke i.e running over a frog is certain death for the creature.
Whats funny to you may be cause of distress to another.

" Gad nar sleep"

 
Headley 2017-03-16 22:54:44 

In reply to Benjie

In Ja we say "what is joke to boy is death to dog."

I believe in Tdad they say "what is joke to boy is death to crapaud."

" Gad nar sleep" - all across the Caribbean. That's why folks become Christians. They have a full time vengeful God at their disposal. big grin big grin big grin

 
Headley 2017-03-16 23:01:30 

"Mouth open 'tory' jump out." Just had reason to use this one on the Track and Field thread.

 
bravos 2017-03-16 23:44:21 

In reply to Headley

Yes and "what is joke for school chirren is death for crapaud"..

I remember when I was 12-13 or thereabouts I went to summer camp in a nice private church/community centre with nice lush grounds and one night we were roasting potatoes and marshmallows and one of the counselors a popular bigger good looking boy who all the girls liked ran up to a crapaud and kicked it with all his strength,turned out to be a rock (bigstone to rass) in the dark with a crapaud silhouette,he probably though he could break the crapaud record with that big fella,it was hospital one time and crutches for the rest of that long summer..**ouch but you gotta laugh a little...strange enough boys my age we were rooting for the crapaud/rock,I guess in the end we appreciated the 'handicap',he definitely lost his shine and swag..lol twisted

 
bravos 2017-03-16 23:45:00 

In reply to Headley

"Mouth open 'tory' jump out."


You on a Trini roll! cool smile


"Yuh getting on wassi"!!

 
black 2017-03-17 00:01:30 

In reply to bravos

Yes and "what is joke for school chirren is death for crapaud".


We call them Crappo.
lol

 
bravos 2017-03-17 13:48:21 

In reply to black

Nah we spell it in the true french way..but we pronounce it 'crappo' though!! lol

 
black 2017-03-17 13:50:37 

In reply to bravos

Ok, French word.

Call me an idiot. lol

 
Benjie 2017-03-17 14:12:00 

guinea cock bring guinea hen - a make up story, an unbelievable excuse, a lie

Typically used by parents when I was younger. " I ask you why you come home so late and you telling me guinea cock bring guinea hen"

 
Headley 2017-03-17 19:06:52 

Folks always say that when Caribbean people leave the Caribbean they usually discover how similar they are. The similarity of these expressions shows how much we share in the vernacular. By the time the music, food and the cricket come een is one big 'cook-up'. big grin big grin

 
bravos 2017-03-17 20:37:37 

In reply to Headley

I always tell people I've traveled to major parts of the world and I never feel how I feel in a Caribbean country a few mins away,it's like a homecoming,its like family,you in foreign but you unnastan dem and dey unnasatn you and I don't mean accent etc,I mean in spirit and vibes...and I've noticed the same enthusiasm here with other islanders when they visit..

 
Norm 2017-03-18 00:23:53 

In reply to Benjie

I ask you why you come home so late and you telling me guinea cock bring guinea hen"

I heard that described as "a cock-and-bull story" by the older folk.

 
Norm 2017-03-18 00:27:29 

In reply to Headley

Some of the Calypsonians and reggae singers are great sources of Caribbean expressions. Guys like Sparrow, Lovindeer, Pluto, etc, use lots of Caribbean expressions.

Lovindeer, for example, talks about his "dingobob" in Wild Gilbert, and "you caan have two bull inna same pen" in "Doan ben down", etc.

Sparrow was in a league by himself in this respect too!

 
Headley 2017-03-18 21:26:39 

In reply to Norm

Yes that was one of the strong points and songwriting tools the kaisonans employed. As you noted Sparrow was the master.

Bob Marley also used it a lot. "Simmer down", "chicken a merry, hawk de near", "who the cap fits", "everyday bucket a go a well'. In fact Marley could talk in parables and 'Jamaican expressions' at length, when he did not want to be too direct.

 
Headley 2017-03-18 21:30:24 

In reply to bravos

I never feel how I feel in a Caribbean country a few mins away,it's like a homecoming,its like family,you in foreign but you unnastan dem and dey unnasatn you


In my case almost every Caribbean Island I visit people ask me if I have family there. big grin big grin big grin

 
Headley 2017-03-20 17:41:38 

I am in the Yard and hearing some expressions I haven't heard for a while.

Bob made "chicken a merry, hawk deh near" famous.

Here are some others.

"Trouble deh a bush, Anancy bring it come a yard."

"Dog nuh howl when him have bone."

"Tek sleep mark death."

More later.

 
Chrissy 2017-03-21 17:42:46 

In reply to Headley

Nice thread lol

 
Headley 2017-03-21 18:37:13 

In reply to Chrissy

Thanks. You will like this one. big grin

"Cock mouth kill cock."
This is a favourite of Jamaican politics and it have been used to good effect on a few occasions. A well know example is below.

And, boy, did he take it to Peter Phillips and Portia? Little did he know, however, that he was about to be hoisted by his own petard. Alas, "cock mout kill cock". The Development Bank of Jamaica $80-million Outameni write-off that he accused the PNP of approving, occurred in 2011, under the JLP Administration and Cabinet of which Andrew Holness and Audley Shaw were senior members.

 
Headley 2017-04-07 15:56:55 

1. Same knife weh stick sheep stick goat

2. Thief from thief God laff

3. Weh gone bad a morning can’t come good a evening

4. Sorry fi maga (meager) dog, maga dog tun round bite yuh

 
bravos 2017-04-13 01:57:03 

In reply to Headley

"Yuh/meh foot short"

"Yuh have short foot" rolleyes

When you just miss something or always missing out on something by reaching just a little too late. smile

 
bravos 2017-04-13 01:58:26 

In reply to Headley

"he living quite o quite"

"living behind god back"

Living far country or some hard to find place..

 
Headley 2017-04-13 16:03:44 

In reply to bravos

"Yuh have short foot"

Nice one. Never heard it before. Could be misinterpreted. big grin


"he living quite o quite"

Remember hearing this one decades ago. big grin Still like it. big grin

 
BeatDball 2017-04-14 09:00:40 

Walk good - have a nice trip.
He belly full - he's complacent N doesn't GAS!

 
Headley 2017-04-14 14:38:58 

In reply to BeatDball

Walk good - have a nice trip.


Hope you don't mind if I explain for those not familiar with the expression.

Walk good is an old Ja expression popularised by the late Ken Maxwell in the 1960-70s. Ken was a popular, white Jamaican comedian and raconteur. It has become very popular in the 140 characters era.

 
BeatDball 2017-04-14 16:31:23 

In reply to Headley Sah! Meh nuh jewmaycan....and I tort u were guyneez!
But, if I remembered correctly....in the 70s, I would hear Ole guyneez on leg 1 island use - walk good.

 
BeatDball 2017-04-14 16:34:37 

My wife's favorite - u nah have meh on bed-of-roses! Well, to be honest...this hard working chic has me on.....meh feel shame!

 
Headley 2017-04-15 13:12:59 

In reply to BeatDball

Just from reading this thread you will realise that a number of the old expressions are really used across the Caribbean and there are some that Jamaica and Guyana have in common. It was funny when Runs said that "bumbai" (meaning food put away for eating later) was a totally Guyanese expression only to find out that it is also used in Ja.

Well it seems you're a lucky man with a dedicated wife who will keep yuh on a bed of roses.big grin Try to stay on her good side. big grin

 
Ewart 2017-04-15 13:49:59 

In reply to Headley

1. Don't bill bush fi mek monkey run race

2. Don't watch the noise in the market ... check yu change!


//

 
Headley 2017-04-15 16:20:31 

In reply to Ewart

2. Don't watch the noise in the market ... check yu change!


Like this one. Never heard it before.


1. Don't bill bush fi mek monkey run race


This one is known. Still surprises me how many monkey expressions and monkey stories we have in Jamaica and yet we have no monkeys. Never had as far as I know.

Is this evidence of the power of story telling and oral expressions to record our African culture? If so how much longer will it survive?

 
BeatDball 2017-04-17 19:08:24 

In reply to Headley I can clearly remember my granny using, bambai! Runs' from the city...meh from country...we don't say, bumbai!

 
Headley 2017-04-18 20:27:33 

In reply to BeatDball

I believe we say "bumbai" in Ja but cut me a little slack. Last time I heard "bumbai" or "bambai" Andy Roberts and Derrick Murray were playing cricket for the WI. big grin