Meaning
You may get away with wrongdoing for a long time, but you will be caught in the end — often suddenly and quickly. However far and long you run, the 'catch' comes in a short moment. A warning that evading consequences cannot last forever; the reckoning always arrives.
Examples
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Him a get weh wid it fi years, but long run, short ketch.
He's been getting away with it for years, but it'll catch up quickly in the end.
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Dem tink dem safe — long run, short ketch.
They think they're safe — you run long but get caught short.
Origin
A traditional proverb; a long run ends in a short, sudden catch. See Every day bucket go a well, one day di bottom mus drop out, Who spit inna di sky, it fall inna dem face.
How it’s used
Wrongdoing catches up eventually, often suddenly. See Every day bucket go a well, one day di bottom mus drop out.