Meaning
Someone is in serious danger or trouble but is blissfully unaware, mistaking the warning signs for something pleasant. The picture is of a mouse ('mus-mus') whose tail has caught fire but who feels the heat and thinks it is only a cool breeze — foolishly comfortable while disaster is upon them.
Examples
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Him spending like him rich while him deep in debt — fire deh a mus-mus tail, him tink a cool breeze.
He's spending like he's rich while deep in debt — danger's on him but he thinks all is well.
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Dem laughing, nuh know trouble a come. Fire deh a mus-mus tail.
They're laughing, not knowing trouble is coming. Danger's upon them and they don't realise.
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Him a spend up all him money careless; when fire deh a muss-muss tail, him tink a cool breeze.
He's carelessly spending all his money; oblivious to the disaster coming.
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Dem laughing while trouble a come — when fire deh a muss-muss tail, dem tink a cool breeze.
They're laughing while trouble approaches — blind to the danger behind them.
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Warn him, for when fire deh a muss-muss tail, him tink a cool breeze.
Warn him, because he can't feel the danger creeping up on him.
Origin
A traditional proverb; the mouse mistakes its burning tail for a cool breeze. See Mus-mus, Goat mout.
How it’s used
Being oblivious to imminent danger, mistaking warning for comfort. See Mus-mus, Trouble nuh set like rain.