Meaning
To make the long sucking sound through the teeth that expresses contempt, annoyance, disgust, or dismissal — the classic Jamaican 'suck-teeth', also spelled 'steups' or 'chups'. A whole world of attitude packed into a single sound, the kiss-teeth can dismiss a person, scorn a statement, or vent frustration more eloquently than words, and its length and force carry the exact measure of feeling. One of the most expressive gestures in the culture, it is a wordless rebuke understood by everyone within earshot.
Examples
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She kiss har teet an walk weh.
She sucked her teeth and walked away.
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Wen mi tell him no, him just kiss teet.
When I told him no, he just sucked his teeth.
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Nuh kiss yuh teet pon mi!
Don't suck your teeth at me!
Origin
Describes the gesture itself — air sucked sharply across the teeth. A West-African-derived sound of disdain found across the Caribbean; 'steups' is an onomatopoeic spelling.
How it’s used
One of the most expressive Jamaican gestures, conveying scorn, exasperation, or dismissal. Also 'suck teet' / 'steups'.