Meaning
Be too familiar or playful with someone beneath you in age or standing and they will take liberties and disrespect you. Play with a puppy and it will end up licking your mouth — getting far too close. A caution to keep a proper distance, especially between elders and youngsters, so that familiarity doesn't breed contempt.
Examples
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Di teacher get too friendly an now di class rude — play wid puppy, puppy lick yuh mout.
The teacher got too friendly and now the class is rude — over-familiarity breeds disrespect.
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Keep yuh distance from di yout dem; play wid puppy, puppy lick yuh mout.
Keep your distance from the youngsters; too much familiarity brings disrespect.
Origin
A traditional proverb; the over-played-with puppy takes the liberty of licking your mouth. See [[facety]], [[big-people]].
How it’s used
Over-familiarity breeds disrespect; keep proper distance. See [[facety]], [[renk]], [[big-people]].