Traditional✓ Culturally verified
“Yu cyaan ketch Quaku (Harry), yu ketch im shut.”
If you cannot catch Quaku (Harry), catch his shirt.
What does “Yu cyaan ketch Quaku (Harry), yu ketch im shut” mean?
It is not always possible to get everything you want.
English translation
If you cannot catch Quaku (Harry), catch his shirt.
Literal translation
If you cannot catch Quaku (Harry), catch his shirt.
Understanding the expression
It is not always possible to get everything you want. Be satisfied with what little you have, until you are able to get all you want. Having caught Quako’s shirt, you are all the closer to catching him.
Topics
Explore more Jamaican sayings
Attribution and review
Traditional Jamaican proverb