Nuh trouble trouble till trouble trouble yuh

proverb nuh TROU-ble TROU-ble till TROU-ble TROU-ble yuh nʌ ˈtrʌbl ˈtrʌbl tɪl ˈtrʌbl ˈtrʌbl jʊ

Also spelled don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you, no trouble trouble till trouble trouble yuh

'Nuh trouble trouble till trouble trouble yuh' — don't go looking for trouble until trouble comes looking for you. Leave well enough alone and don't provoke problems that would otherwise leave you in peace, the proverb counsels: meddling with a quiet danger only wakes it against you. The wordplay of 'trouble' as both noun and verb drives home the lesson — stir up strife and it will turn on you — and it is offered as shrewd advice to keep still, mind your business, and not stir a hornet's nest at rest.

  • Lowe di man an mind yuh business; nuh trouble trouble till trouble trouble yuh.

    Leave the man alone and mind your business; don't provoke trouble needlessly.

  • Everyting quiet, so nuh stir it up — nuh trouble trouble till trouble trouble yuh.

    Everything's peaceful, so don't stir it up — let sleeping trouble lie.

  • Him go poke di hornet nest; nuh trouble trouble till trouble trouble yuh.

    He went and poked the hornet's nest; don't wake trouble that would leave you be.

Built on repetition of 'trouble' as both noun and verb: to 'trouble trouble' is to disturb the very thing that would otherwise not disturb you — a warning against provoking dormant danger.

A very common caution against meddling with problems that would otherwise leave you alone.