Anancy story

noun a-NAN-cy STO-ry aˈnansi ˈstoːri

Also spelled anansi story, anancy stories

A folk tale about Anancy (Anansi), the cunning spider-trickster of Jamaican tradition — stories, brought from West Africa, in which the small, clever spider outwits bigger and stronger creatures. By extension, 'Anancy story' can also mean a far-fetched tall tale or a lie.

  • Granny use to tell wi Anancy story every night.

    Granny used to tell us Anansi tales every night.

  • Nuh gi mi no Anancy story — tell mi di truth.

    Don't give me any tall tale — tell me the truth.

  • Every Anancy story teach a lesson.

    Every Anansi story teaches a lesson.

From Anancy/Anansi, the Akan spider-trickster carried to Jamaica by enslaved West Africans; the tales became a cornerstone of Jamaican oral tradition. See [[anansi]].

Both the traditional folk tales and, figuratively, a far-fetched story or lie.