Pèdi ni sak ni krab
Meaning
Losing everything by doing something counterproductive.
Translation: Counterproductive, doing more harm than good, losing everything.
Literal Meaning: Losing the sack and the crab.
Example 1
Tanpri di Ti Jo pou l pa kite travay li a toutotan li poko jwenn yon lòt. Si non, l ap pèdi ni sak ni krab wi.
Please tell Lil Jo to not leave his job until he finds another one. If not he will lose everything
Example 2
Tande! Pa okipe mesye sa yo tande! Pa envesti kòb ou nan magouy sa a. W ap pèdi ni sak ni krab.
Listen! Don't listen to these guys! Don't invest your money on this scam. You will lose everything.
Fun Facts
In Haiti people in rural areas at times collect crabs in rivers, under rocks and so on to make delicious meals.
Now if one was not careful, he or she might put crabs inside a sack without any extra layers to prevent the crabs from cutting through.
Therefore, the crabs would then cut through the sack with their sharp claws, causing the person to lose the sack, the crabs, and the hope of a delicious meal!
This is why the lesson of this proverb is to losing everything or doing more harm than good by not doing that is counterproductive.