Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
steups en · NOUN
Etymology
Imitative of the act of sucking one's teeth as a gesture of annoyance or disapproval. Native to the English-speaking West Indies, e.g. Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago etc. In Jamaica, the term "kissing teeth" is used instead.
Meanings
(Caribbean, dialectal, onomatopoeic) The sound made by sucking one's teeth.
He thought he heard a loud steups somewhere from the dark. 2004, Anson Gonzalez, Crossroads of Dream, page 57:
A loud steups followed. 2003, Ramabai Espinet, The Swinging Bridge, page 45:
When my mother heard this she let out a loud steups but said nothing. 2006, Joy Mahabir, Jouvert, page 78:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
chupse
alternative
lexicographic
chupes
alternative
lexicographic
steupse
alternative
lexicographic
cheups
alternative
lexicographic
stewps
alternative
lexicographic
steupses
Number=Plur
lexicographic
steups en · VERB
Etymology
Imitative of the act of sucking one's teeth as a gesture of annoyance or disapproval. Native to the English-speaking West Indies, e.g. Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago etc. In Jamaica, the term "kissing teeth" is used instead.
Meanings
(Caribbean, Jamaica, dialectal, onomatopoeic) To suck one's teeth, indicating disappointment, derision or disgust.
‘Here?’ Petronella steups. ‘Where you think here is?’ 2022, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, When We Were Birds, Hamish Hamilton, page 104:
nl tjoeri (the sound made by sucking one's teeth) · fr tchiper (to suck one's teeth) · srn tyuri (the sound made by sucking one's teeth) · uz tanglayini taqillatmoq (to suck one's teeth) · fr tchip (the sound made by sucking one's teeth) · fi purra hammasta (to suck one's teeth) · aig chups (the sound made by sucking one's teeth) · srn hari wan tyuri (to suck one's teeth)