Meaning
'When fire deh a muss-muss tail, him tink a cool breeze' — when the fire is at the mouse's tail, he thinks it is a cool breeze. It describes a person so blind to the danger right behind them that they mistake it for something pleasant, heedless of the trouble about to catch them. The proverb warns against such fatal unawareness — carrying on in comfort while disaster creeps up unseen — and it is offered as a caution to wake up and recognise a threat before it is too late to escape it.
Examples
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Him a spend up all him money careless; when fire deh a muss-muss tail, him tink a cool breeze.
He's carelessly spending all his money; oblivious to the disaster coming.
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Dem laughing while trouble a come — when fire deh a muss-muss tail, dem tink a cool breeze.
They're laughing while trouble approaches — blind to the danger behind them.
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Warn him, for when fire deh a muss-muss tail, him tink a cool breeze.
Warn him, because he can't feel the danger creeping up on him.
Origin
A vivid image: a mouse feels the warmth of a fire at its tail and mistakes it for a breeze — pleasure felt at the very edge of ruin.
How it’s used
Said of someone dangerously oblivious — enjoying themselves while disaster closes in. A cousin of 'chicken merry, hawk deh near'.