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Jamaican Sayings -5

When Fish cum from riber bottom say Alligator mout long, believe him

This statement was used to warn or alert someone to pay attention to those who know what they are talking about contra those who are running their mouths like a toilet with a broken flushometer.

It is not often used today as few people can differentiate between someone who was physically there and is recounting facts, and those who talk the loudest.

In olden days people seemed to be able to discriminate between the ‘fish’* who actually saw the alligator and the rat who has never been near the river.

This statement is not used very often today as the term ‘Fish’  has taken up a particular meaning in current slang.

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Written by jaylar