Following on from our Talk Like Ah Bajan Series, we asked some of your “average” Bajans to translate some of the sayings we presented here. See how they did below…
Bajan Saying: If you didn’t at de christening, yuh shouldn’t be at de wedding.
The Average Bajan Says:
If you weren’t there from the start don’t be there at the finish.
If you weren’t there from the start doan try to be there when things are at their best.
Meaning: Do not get involved in something if you do not know how it started.
Bajan Saying: Bucket gine up and down in well evah day, de bottom boun’ tuh drop out.
The Average Bajan Says:
If you keep doing the same thing over and over people will catch on.
If you keep overworking something it will give out.
Meaning: Sustained pressure and exertion will eventually lead to a breakdown.
Bajan Saying: One smart dead at too smart door.
The Average Bajan Says:
There is always someone who knows more than you do.
One person what felt he was smart get outsmart by someone else.
Meaning: You can’t trick a trickster.
Bajan Saying: Day does run til night catch he.
The Average Bajan Says:
You can’t run away from your problems forever.
Everything that happens in the dark comes to light.
Meaning: Things always catch up with you.
Bajan Saying: Ya could hide and buy land but ya can’t hide and work um.
The Average Bajan Says:
Whatever you do in private will eventually come to light.
Everything has repercussions.
Meaning: What happens in the dark will always come to light.
Bajan Saying: Yuh can’ plant yam and reap eddoe.
The Average Bajan Says:
You will reap what you sow.
Can’t do wrong and expect good.
Meaning: Your reward or punishment is in line with your actions.
Bajan Saying: De higher de monkey climb, de more ’e show ’e tail.
The Average Bajan Says:
The more you advance, the more you expose yourself.
The more you do, the more you show your true colours.
Meaning: The more you show off, the more your faults are brought to the open.
Bajan Saying: Tekking time ain’t laziness.
The Average Bajan Says:
Better to take ya time and do something than rush it.
Taking your time to do something properly is not being lazy.
Meaning: Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Bajan Saying: Evah skin-teet en’ a laugh.
The Average Bajan Says:
Everyone who smile and laff wid you int you’re friend.
Persons may smile at you yet stab you in the back.
Meaning: Not all outward signs of friendliness should be taken as genuine.
Bajan Saying: Gih Jack ‘e jacket.
The Average Bajan Says:
When someone does something worthy of praise let them have it.
Give someone praise where praise is due.
Meaning: Give credit where credit is due.
Bajan Saying: De tongue dat buy you does sell you.
The Average Bajan Says:
The persons that tell you things will also talk about you.
The person you trust might be the one who will hurt you.
Meaning: The same person that flatters you, may betray you later.
Bajan Saying: White mout fowl does eat and den wipe ‘e mout in de grass.
The Average Bajan Says:
Someone that eats and has no manners.
The fowl “great” with itself.
Meaning: Some people don’t show gratitude.
Bajan Saying: Wha’ sweeten goat mout does bun ‘e tail.
The Average Bajan Says:
What looks tempting initially can have negative consequences.
Anything that sounds really sweet is probably too good to be true.
Meaning: A source of great pleasure may turn out to be a problem later on.
Bajan Saying: Nuh name, nuh blame, nuh lock up.
The Average Bajan Says:
No name calling, so no one can be blamed.
If you don’t know about something, or weren’t there, you can’t be blamed for it and can’t get in trouble.
Meaning: If no names are called, no one can be accused.
Bajan Saying: If black bird fly wid pigeon ‘e will get shoot.
The Average Bajan Says:
Guilty by association.
If you hang with the wrong crowd, their fate will be your fate.
Meaning: If you associate with the wrong people you will get the same treatment that they do.
