Meaning
'Coward man keep sound bones' — a cowardly man keeps his bones intact. There is no shame in walking away from a fight, the proverb holds: the one who avoids the danger stays whole and lives to see another day, while the reckless hero risks broken bones or worse. It quietly prefers discretion to foolhardy bravery, offering a wry defence of caution — that the man who steps back from trouble may look timid, but he comes home sound, and there is wisdom in that.
Examples
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Mi lef before di fight start; coward man keep sound bones.
I left before the fight started; a coward keeps his bones intact.
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Better run than dead — coward man keep sound bones.
Better to run than to die — the cautious man stays unhurt.
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Nuh badda prove nutten; coward man keep sound bones.
Don't bother proving anything; the one who avoids trouble keeps himself safe.
Origin
A blunt image of the body: the man who dodges the fight keeps his bones unbroken, where the brave one may not.
How it’s used
Used to defend prudence over false pride — sometimes it is wiser to back away than to stand and fight.