Meanings
plural steupses · alternative stewps · alternative chupes · alternative chupse · alternative cheups · alternative steupse
- CaribbeandialectalonomatopoeicThe sound made by sucking one's teeth.
A loud steups followed.
2003, Ramabai Espinet, The Swinging Bridge, page 452 more examples
He thought he heard a loud steups somewhere from the dark.
2004, Anson Gonzalez, Crossroads of Dream, page 57When my mother heard this she let out a loud steups but said nothing.
2006, Joy Mahabir, Jouvert, page 78
present singular third person steupses · participle present steupsing · participle past steupsed · past steupsed · alternative stewps · alternative chupes · alternative chupse · alternative cheups · alternative steupse
- CaribbeanJamaicadialectalonomatopoeicTo suck one's teeth, indicating disappointment, derision or disgust.
‘Here?’ Petronella steups. ‘Where you think here is?’
2022, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, When We Were Birds, Hamish Hamilton, page 104Synonyms: kiss one's teeth, suck one's teeth
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo suck one's teeth, indicating disappointment, derision or disgust.
Origin
Imitative of the act of sucking one's teeth as a gesture of annoyance or disapproval. Native to the English-speaking West Indies, e.g. Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago etc. In Jamaica, the term "kissing teeth" is used instead.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch tjoeri
- tjoerithe sound made by sucking one's teeth
Finnish purra hammasta
- purra hammastato suck one's teeth
French tchip, tchiper
- tchipthe sound made by sucking one's teeth
- tchiperto suck one's teeth
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
steups. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/steups
“steups.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/steups. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “steups,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/steups.
Source: steups on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.