Nuh mek mi vex

Meaning

A warning telling someone to stop pushing you before you lose your temper; stronger and more personal than simply saying 'don't annoy me' because 'vex' implies real, hot anger, not mild irritation.

Examples

• “A tell yuh awready, nuh mek mi vex wid yuh dis marnin.”

  I already told you, don't make me angry with you this morning.

  'A tell' here uses 'a' as a past emphasis marker roughly meaning 'I did tell you'.

• “Pickney, nuh mek mi vex, guh siddung an eat yuh food.”

  Child, don't make me angry, go sit down and eat your food.

  Common from a parent to a child; 'siddung' is 'sit down'.

• “Him keep touch mi tings, nuh mek mi vex enuh.”

  He keeps touching my things, don't make me angry, you know.

  'Enuh' at the end softens or intensifies as a tag, like 'I'm warning you'.

Origin

From English 'vex' (to annoy), which retains its older sense of 'to become angry' in Patois more strongly than in modern standard English.

How it's used

Everyday but confrontational; a genuine warning that trouble is coming. 'Vex' as an adjective ('mi vex') means 'I am angry', a common point of confusion for non-speakers.