Meaning
A children's chasing game — the Jamaican cops-and-robbers — where one group are the 'police' who chase and 'catch' (jail) the other group, the 'thief', until all are caught or a captured player is freed. Played through yards, lanes, and bush with much running, hiding, and shouting, it is a rowdy, energetic staple of childhood.
Examples
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Di bwoy dem a play police an thief round di lane.
The boys are playing cops and robbers around the lane.
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Yuh ketch, yuh a go a jail!
You're caught, you're going to jail!
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Free di thief before police ketch everybody.
Free the robber before the police catch everyone.
Origin
The Jamaican name for cops-and-robbers; 'police' chase 'thief'. See [[stucky]], [[hide-and-seek]].
How it’s used
The cops-and-robbers chasing game. See [[stucky]], [[dandy-shandy]].