Tek time
Also spelled: Tek taim, Teck time
Meaning
An instruction to go slowly, be careful, or handle something gently; broader than English 'take your time' because it can mean 'be careful' or 'ease up' as well as 'don't rush'.
Examples
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“Tek time wid di glass dem, dem a bruk easy.”
Be careful with the glasses, they break easily.
Here 'tek time' means 'handle carefully', not 'go slow'; 'dem' pluralises 'glass'.
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“Tek time drive, di road slippery.”
Drive carefully, the road is slippery.
No copula before 'slippery' — 'di road slippery' not 'the road is slippery'.
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“Tek time, nuh badda rush yuhself.”
Slow down, don't rush yourself.
'Badda' means 'bother'; 'nuh badda' is a soft prohibition, 'don't bother to'.
Origin
From English 'take time', with the sense of care and caution expanded well beyond the standard meaning of merely not hurrying.
How it's used
Very common and warm in tone; often said protectively by an elder or friend. Foreigners hearing only 'go slow' miss the 'be careful' sense that is often intended.