Traditional proverbs of British Virgin Islands in en and English — each with its meaning and source.
“What sweet in goat mouth is sour in his belly.”
Something that feels pleasurable in the moment can bring painful consequences later.
Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition
“Every day the bucket goes to the well, one day the bottom will drop out.”
Repeated risky or dishonest behavior eventually catches up with you.
“Little by little the bird builds its nest.”
Patient, steady effort accomplishes what haste cannot.
“One one coco full basket.”
Small, steady contributions accumulate into something substantial over time.
“Time longer than rope.”
Given enough time, the truth and justice will eventually catch up with everything.
“Play with puppy, puppy licks your mouth.”
Allowing too much familiarity without boundaries invites disrespect.
“Monkey knows which tree to climb.”
People instinctively know where their advantage or opportunity lies.
“Hard head makes soft backside.”
Stubbornness that refuses good advice usually ends in a painful lesson.
“Cut your coat according to your cloth.”
Live within the means you actually have, not the means you wish you had.
“Empty barrel makes the most noise.”
Those with the least substance often talk the loudest.
“Rain doesn't fall on one man's housetop alone.”
Hardship eventually touches everyone, not only the person suffering it now.
“The higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his tail.”
The more a proud person rises, the more clearly their flaws are exposed.
“Sorry for maga dog, maga dog bite you.”
Kindness shown to the desperate or wretched is sometimes repaid with betrayal.
“If you can't hear, you will feel.”
A warning ignored is usually followed by a painful, firsthand lesson.
“Cockroach never right in front of fowl.”
In a dispute between an obvious wrongdoer and the one who confronts them, the wrongdoer rarely gets the benefit of the doubt.
“What is joke to you is death to me.”
Something that seems trivial or funny to one person may be a real hardship to another.
“A busy hand is better than an idle head.”
Productive work keeps a person out of trouble that idleness invites.
“Wood already bent is hard to straighten.”
Habits and character formed early in life are difficult to change later.
“No condition is permanent.”
Whether times are hard or good, circumstances always change eventually.
“One finger can't pick up a stone.”
Cooperation achieves what a single person acting alone cannot.
“A smiling face doesn't always mean a friend.”
Pleasant appearances can hide someone's true, less friendly intentions.
“Two dogs can't agree over one bone.”
When two parties both want the same limited prize, conflict is hard to avoid.
“Better belly buss than good food waste.”
A wry saying about not letting good food go to waste, even at the cost of overeating.
“Ask no question, hear no lie.”
Sometimes not prying into a matter spares you from being told a falsehood.
“Never test the depth of a river with both feet.”
Approach uncertain or risky situations cautiously, testing carefully rather than committing fully at once.
“The tongue has no bone, but it can break a man's back.”
Harsh or careless words can cause damage far greater than physical force.
“You can't hide the sun with a basket.”
The truth is too large and obvious to be concealed for long.
“Rockstone at the bottom of the river doesn't know the sun is hot.”
Those who are sheltered from hardship often fail to understand what others are suffering.
“When a man dies, grass grows at his door.”
Life and the world move on quickly, even after someone important is gone.
“Craven choke puppy.”
Excessive greed eventually destroys the greedy person.
“Take skin-teeth to cover heart-burn.”
People often smile outwardly to hide the pain or sorrow they carry inside.
“Duppy know who to frighten.”
Cunning or dishonest people are careful to target only those who are vulnerable enough to be fooled.
“New broom sweeps clean, but old broom knows the corner.”
Newcomers may bring energy and enthusiasm, but experience knows the details that novelty misses.
“Wanti wanti can't getti, getti getti no wanti.”
Those who desperately want something often cannot get it, while those who already have it may not even want it — a comment on the irony of desire.
“If you can't catch Quaco, you catch his shirt.”
When you cannot get exactly what you were after, settle for whatever part of it you can reach.
“Trouble doesn't set like rain.”
Unlike rain clouds that give warning, misfortune can arrive without any sign at all.
“When your hand is in a dog's mouth, take your time to draw it out.”
In a delicate or dangerous situation, act carefully and patiently rather than yanking free and making things worse.
“Sleep has no calendar.”
Trouble and misfortune can strike at any time, without regard for when it is convenient.
“Coward man keeps sound bones.”
A person who avoids unnecessary risk and conflict is spared the injuries that bolder people suffer.
“Nothing beats a trial but a failure.”
It's always worth attempting something, since the only real defeat is refusing to try at all.
“Every hoe has its stick in the bush.”
Everyone will eventually meet their match or their equal, however confident they may be.
“A hungry belly has no ears.”
A person in real need cannot be reasoned with by words alone; their circumstances must be addressed first.
“Give and take is what keeps a friendship alive.”
Relationships endure only when both sides are willing to compromise and share fairly.
“A little axe can cut down a big tree.”
Persistence and small consistent efforts can overcome even the largest obstacles.
“You can't get blood out of a stone.”
It is pointless to demand something from someone who genuinely has nothing to give.
“What can't run, must walk.”
When you cannot move quickly toward a goal, steady progress will still get you there eventually.
“Every day is not Christmas.”
Good fortune and celebration do not last forever, so enjoy and prepare wisely while they do.
“You can't run from your own shadow.”
A person cannot escape their own nature, past, or conscience no matter how far they go.
“Empty bag can't stand up.”
A person without resources or support cannot be expected to hold themselves up, let alone help others.
“Cuss-cuss doesn't bore a hole in the skin.”
Harsh words exchanged in an argument, however heated, leave no physical wound behind.
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