Saint Kitts & Nevis Proverbs (15)

“What sweet in goat mouth is sour in he tail.”

An action that feels pleasurable in the moment can bring painful consequences later on.

“One one coco full basket.”

Small contributions added one at a time eventually fill up to something substantial.

“Time longer than twine.”

There is more time ahead than people realize, so there is no need to rush or despair.

“Play with puppy, puppy lick your mouth.”

Being too familiar or careless with people beneath your guard invites disrespect.

“Monkey know what tree to climb.”

People instinctively know who they can take advantage of, and who will treat them kindly.

“Every day the bucket goes to the well, one day the bottom will drop out.”

Repeating risky or dishonest behavior eventually leads to failure or exposure.

“When your neighbour's house is on fire, wet your own.”

When trouble strikes nearby, take precautions to protect yourself before it spreads to you.

“Little axe fell big tree.”

Small, sustained efforts can eventually accomplish something that looks impossibly large.

“Rain doesn't fall to wet one man only.”

Hardship, like rain, tends to fall on everyone in a community, not just a single person.

“Cuss-cuss doesn't bore a hole in the skin.”

Harsh words may sting, but they cannot cause the lasting physical harm that actions can.

“Every skin teeth is not a laugh.”

A smile does not always signal true friendliness; some grins hide other intentions.

“You can't get blood out of a stone.”

You cannot obtain help, money, or sympathy from someone or something that has none to give.

“Cockroach has no business in a fowl fight.”

A weaker party should stay out of a conflict between two much stronger sides.

“An empty bag cannot stand up straight.”

A person who is hungry, poor, or exhausted cannot be expected to perform or behave normally.

“What is for you cannot be un-for you.”

What is destined to be yours will come to you, and what is not will not, no matter what you do.