Traditional✓ Culturally verified
“Dawg naw nuh suppa, him nyam cockroach.”
When a dog has no supper, it eats cockroaches.
What does “Dawg naw nuh suppa, him nyam cockroach” mean?
In hard times, practical people adapt and make do with what is available.
English translation
When a dog has no supper, it eats cockroaches.
Understanding the expression
A dog without its usual meal finds something else — resourcefulness born of necessity.
When to use it: an illustrative example
"Mi lose di job, so mi a sell food outa mi yard now." — "Dawg nuh have suppa, him nyam cockroach. Yuh a manage!"
Partner proverb
Every proverb has its partner
“Dawg naw nuh suppa, him nyam cockroach.”
“When trouble tek yuh, pickney shut fit yuh.”
When trouble takes you, a child's shirt fits you.
Shared wisdom: In times of trouble, practical people adapt in unlikely ways.
View partner proverb →Good for
Encouragement
Topics
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Attribution and review
Traditional Jamaican proverb