Traditional✓ Culturally verified
“A nuh lack a tongue mek cow nuh labrish.”
It isn't for lack of a tongue that the cow doesn't gossip.
What does “A nuh lack a tongue mek cow nuh labrish” mean?
Silence is a choice; wise people hold their tongue.
English translation
It isn't for lack of a tongue that the cow doesn't gossip.
Understanding the expression
The cow has a big tongue yet stays quiet — an example of discretion.
When to use it: an illustrative example
"Yuh nuh seh nutten bout di fuss?" — "A nuh lack a tongue mek cow nuh labrish."
Partner proverb
Every proverb has its partner
“A nuh lack a tongue mek cow nuh labrish.”
“A nuh everyting good fi eat, good fi talk.”
Not everything good to eat is good to talk about.
Shared wisdom: It's always best to be discreet; it's never good to gossip.
View partner proverb →Topics
Explore more Jamaican sayings
Attribution and review
Traditional Jamaican proverb