Meaning
A folk tale of Anansi, the cunning spider-man trickster who outwits bigger, stronger creatures through cleverness and mischief. Brought from West Africa (the Akan 'Anansesem'), these stories are the heart of Jamaican oral tradition, told to teach and entertain. By extension, an 'Anansi story' also means a tall tale or a far-fetched lie.
Examples
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Granny tell wi Anansi story before bed.
Grandma told us Anansi stories before bed.
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Anansi trick Tiger inna di story.
Anansi tricks Tiger in the story.
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Dat a pure Anansi story, mi nuh believe yuh.
That's a pure tall tale; I don't believe you.
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Granny use to tell wi Anancy story every night.
Granny used to tell us Anansi tales every night.
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Nuh gi mi no Anancy story — tell mi di truth.
Don't give me any tall tale — tell me the truth.
Origin
From 'Anansi' (Akan 'Ananse', spider) + 'story'; from the West African 'Anansesem' tradition. See Duppy story.
How it’s used
A trickster-spider folk tale; also a tall tale/lie. See Duppy story, Labrish.