Traditional✓ Culturally verified
“Tek time yuh wi buck rock stone.”
Take time, you will stub your toe on a rock.
What does “Tek time yuh wi buck rock stone” mean?
Rushing leads to mistakes; take care. This saying encourages slowing down enough to notice obstacles and make a considered choice. It can apply to a physical task, a decision or a conversation where haste might cause avoidable harm. The advice is about careful progress, not stopping altogether or delaying a necessary action indefinitely.
English translation
Take time, you will stub your toe on a rock.
Understanding the expression
The image is of moving too quickly and striking a stone with your toe. A small obstacle becomes painful when you fail to notice it. In a figurative setting, the rock can stand for a detail overlooked during hurried work. The expression offers a concrete reminder to check what lies ahead and give a task the attention it needs.
When to use it: an illustrative example
Someone is about to send an important application without checking the details. You might say, “Tek time yuh wi buck rock stone,” and suggest reading it once more. A short pause can prevent a mistake that would take much longer to correct.
Topics
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Attribution and review
Traditional Jamaican proverb