Bun an cheese
Also spelled: bun and cheese, bun an chees
Meaning
The pairing of Jamaican Easter bun, a dark, spiced fruit loaf, with slices of firm processed cheese, eaten together as a traditional Easter treat. It refers less to two separate foods than to the fixed cultural combination people crave around the Easter season.
Examples
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“Come Easter, mi mus haffi get mi bun an cheese.”
When Easter comes, I absolutely have to get my bun and cheese.
'Mus haffi' doubles the obligation markers for emphasis, meaning 'simply must'.
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“Mama cut di bun thick an lay on di cheese.”
Mum cut the bun thick and laid on the cheese.
The unmarked past is common; context supplies the tense.
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“Bun widdout cheese jus nuh mek sense.”
Bun without cheese just doesn't make sense.
'Widdout' is 'without'; 'nuh' is the negator here.
Origin
From English 'bun and cheese'; the bun derives from the British hot cross bun, adapted with Jamaican spices and molasses.
How it's used
Everyday and seasonal; overwhelmingly linked to Easter, though bun is sold year-round. The cheese meant is typically tinned or block processed cheese such as Tastee or Anchor, not a soft cheese.