Steups! The silly season over today and the number of steupses said during that selfsame season could suck a chennette tree down the NCC's throat.A steups, according to Lise Winer's wonderful Dictionary of the English/Creole of T&T, is "the sound made by sucking air and saliva through the teeth, indicating annoyance or derision." It's said to be of West African origin but peculiar to Trinidadians and Tobagonians and if you hear it, you can bet there's a Trini around.Once, in a long, long lineup to get into the Empire State building, I was about to leave when a fellow behind me let out a loud steups and said, "This is dotishness, I gone!"
I steupsed back. He was from Cedros, we joined forces, limed a bit and stayed on.Some people say "Cheups!" but I prefer the S sound to the Cher. The S brings out all the sauciness, the rudiness that the word is meant to convey. Think of a woman looking down at you and saying "Steups!" "Cheups!" is harsher, carrying the conation of "yuh chupid!" as in "chupidee" or "chupidness!" It's occasionally spelt "choops" by simple people. Or "stupes" by the sort of people who now say they are from "Cobortin" and not "Cobo Town." It's an interesting word because the more you prolong the inspiration, "Steeeuuups!", the more meaningful the word becomes. That is word fadder!So here are the Steups! Awards for the most chupidee comments made this Carnival season...
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