Dibby-dibby

adjective DIB-bi-DIB-bi ˈdɪbi ˈdɪbi

Also spelled dibi-dibi, dibby dibby

Worthless, inferior, weak, or second-rate — of poor quality and no account. In dancehall a 'dibby-dibby' artist or sound is a lightweight, not to be taken seriously, easily brushed aside by a real heavyweight. The doubled, dismissive little word itself belittles what it names, and it is used to write off flimsy things, feeble efforts, and people of no substance, a favourite put-down in the boasting and clashing where one must be shown to tower over the other.

  • Mi nuh deal wid no dibby-dibby sound.

    I don't deal with any second-rate sound system.

  • Dat a dibby-dibby work, do it ova.

    That's shoddy work, do it over.

  • Him a dibby-dibby artist, nuh have no hit.

    He's a lightweight artist, with no hits.

A reduplicated dancehall coinage; the doubling underlines the smallness and worthlessness it describes.

Dismissive and belittling, popular in dancehall clashes and boasts to run down a rival as weak.