steups

English

Alternative forms

• stewps
• chupes, chupse, cheups
• stoops

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.

Verb

steups (third-person singular simple present steupses, present participle steupsing, simple past and past participle steupsed)

1. (Caribbean, dialect, onomatopoeia) To suck one's teeth, indicating disappointment, derision or disgust.

Noun

steups (plural steupses)

1. (Caribbean, dialect, onomatopoeia) The sound made by sucking one's teeth.
   • 2003, Ramabai Espinet, The Swinging Bridge, page 45:

     A loud steups followed.

   • 2004, Anson Gonzalez, Crossroads of Dream, page 57:

     He thought he heard a loud steups somewhere from the dark.

   • 2006, Joy Mahabir, Jouvert, page 78:

     When my mother heard this she let out a loud steups but said nothing.

See also

• hiss
• shush

Anagrams

• set-ups, sets up, setups, stupes, upsets