Meaning
The written form of the long teeth-sucking sound that expresses contempt, annoyance, disgust, or dismissal — the sound you make by sucking air sharply through the teeth and lips. Spelled 'steups', 'stchuups', or 'tchuups', it is the printed version of what you do when you 'kiss teeth' or 'suck teeth'. A whole reaction in a single sound, ubiquitous across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
Examples
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'Steups,' she seh, an turn har back.
'Tchuups,' she said, and turned her back.
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Him just steups an walk weh.
He just sucked his teeth and walked away.
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Nuh steups pon mi.
Don't suck your teeth at me.
Origin
The written spelling of the teeth-sucking sound of contempt. See [[kiss-teeth]], [[cut-eye]].
How it’s used
The written form of the teeth-sucking sound of contempt/annoyance. See [[kiss-teeth]], [[cut-eye]].