Meaning
'Coward man keep soun bone' — a coward keeps sound, unbroken bones. There is no shame in avoiding a needless fight, the proverb holds: the cautious man who walks away stays whole, while the reckless one who rushes into danger gets hurt. Better safe than sorry, it quietly prefers discretion to foolhardy bravery, offering a wry defence of the man who steps back from trouble — he may look timid, but he comes home unharmed, and there is real wisdom in choosing your bones over your pride.
Examples
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Mi walk weh from di argument; coward man keep soun bone.
I walked away from the argument; the cautious man stays unhurt.
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Nuh badda prove nutten inna dat fight — coward man keep soun bone.
Don't bother proving anything in that fight — better safe than sorry.
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Him retreat an live fi see nex day; coward man keep soun bone.
He backed off and lived to see another day; caution keeps you whole.
Origin
A blunt image of self-preservation: the man too 'cowardly' to fight never gets his bones broken — caution has its own reward.
How it’s used
Used to defend prudence and avoiding unnecessary conflict — 'coward' here is affectionate, not an insult.