Barbadian proverbs and sayings.

Publication: Kola

Publication Date: 22-SEP-03

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COPYRIGHT 2003 Black Writers' Guild

A selection of Barbadian proverbs with correspondeces from other countries. This is the final segment of proverbs that I started in Volume 14, number 1. I received some feedback from readers who noted that I should have explained their meanings. That is not the purpose of the collection. I just wanted to share with you the reader a passion of mine, collecting proverbs as they are used by native speakers. I leave that other aspect to researchers who will follow.

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155. Little children shouldn't play wid sharp-edged tools.

156. Little children and sharp-edged tools ent no friends.

157. Little pitcher got wide ear hole.

158. Little with contenment is great gain.

159. Lime juice neva spoil vinegar.

160. Licky-lacky spell Dutch and P R Y spell particular.

161. Let sleeping dogs lie.(British) a) Don't kick a sleeping dog. (Madagascar)

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162. Money mek de mare fly. (British variant)

163. Money and frien'ship doan 'gree. a) Money done, frien' done. (Guyana) b) Lending money and loaning things (Kill (s) friendship.

(Ganda)

164. Mout' doan speak evat'ing eye see.

165. More in de mortar beside de pestle.

166. Monkey see, monkey do. (British) a.) Only a monkey understands a monkey. (Sierre Leone) b) Copying everybody else all the time, the monkey one day cut his throat. (Zululand)

167. Money will serve any master.

168. Misery loves company.

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169. Night does run 'till day ketch um. a) No matter how long night, the day is sure to come. (Cameroun)

170. Never cut de limb yuh sitting on.

171. Never bite de han' dat feed yuh.

172. Neva seh neva.

173. No one know wha' tomorrow gine bring.

174. News doan lack fuh a carrier. a) News is like a bird, it flies quickly. (Ashanti)

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175. Once bitten twice shy. (British)

176. One-smart dead (live) at two-smart door.

177. One one blows does kill ol' cow.

178. One han' cahn clap.

179. Opportunity lost can never be recalled. a) Opportunity lost is never regained. (Fante)

180. One man's curse is another man's blessing.

181. One man's lost is another man's gain.

182. Out of sight, out of mind. a) Long absent, soon forgotten. (Roumanian)

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