Traditional✓ Culturally verified
“Cuss dawg but nuh tell 'im 'bout 'im teet' nuh white.”
Scold the dog, but don't say its teeth aren't white.
What does “Cuss dawg but nuh tell 'im 'bout 'im teet' nuh white” mean?
Criticise fairly; don't deny someone's genuine good qualities.
English translation
Scold the dog, but don't say its teeth aren't white.
Understanding the expression
Even a dog you are angry with deserves an honest description — bias distorts judgement.
When to use it: an illustrative example
"Mi vex wid mi bredda, but him cook good." — "Exactly — cuss dawg but nuh tell im bout im teet nuh white."
Partner proverb
Every proverb has its partner
“Cuss dawg but nuh tell 'im 'bout 'im teet' nuh white.”
“Beat Quaco, but gi' 'im 'im quattie.”
Punish Quaco, but give him his quattie (his due pay).
Shared wisdom: Don't be biased; always give credit where credit is due.
View partner proverb →Topics
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Attribution and review
Traditional Jamaican proverb