Muromo kapako kokuhwanda nako

Munhu anoshandisa mashoko kunzvenga nekutiza nyaya dzake.

The mouth is a cave where one hide.

One uses words to evade peril they would have brought on themselves.

Many a times one’s mouth can land them in trouble if recklessly used. But what is less referred to is also how one can use their mouth to get out of trouble. Wether one considers this a good or bad trait, what is clear is that our elders realized this possibility through this proverb. It refers to the mouth having the similar capabilities to that of the cave as a place of refuge. In those times, one could evade an attacker, a predator or other natural calamities like a storm by hiding in a cave. Hence the overlying lesson is that if one is in trouble they should at least try to talk themselves out of it.

The proverb is used to identify someone who is cunning in the use of words to escape trouble that they would have caused. It can also be used to advise someone that if they are in trouble they should at least try to talk themselves out of it.