British people are known for their love of tea, so it makes sense that there are so many interesting tea idioms, sayings and phrases in the English language.
Take a look at our English idioms page for a full overview, but for now, put the kettle on and enjoy a brew.
By the way, a ‘brew’ is a predominantly British slang term for a cup of tea. The same is true for ‘cuppa’, which is a concatenation of ‘cup of’ (as in ‘cuppa tea’).
Tea idioms
A storm in a teacup
If there is great fuss, outrange or commotion about something that is small or insignificant, it could be described as a storm in a teacup.
“I really don’t know why he got so upset. It was all a bit of a storm in a teacup if you ask me.”
This one appears on our list of weather idioms, too.
All the tea in China
Tea idioms come in all shapes and sizes and this phrase basically means a large amount of something valuable, like money. People drink a lot of tea in China, so to say you wouldn’t do something for all the tea in China means you would never do it, no matter the amount of money on offer.
“I’m simply not doing the job, not even for all the tea in China!”
Not my cup of tea
If you just don’t like something or someone, try this tea-related expression: not my cup of tea.
“I’ve never liked horror movies. They just aren’t my cup of tea.”
“Beverley loves Korean food but it’s not my cup of tea.”
This idiom can be used in the affirmative too, but this is less common.
“Ooh you baked a lemon cake! Lovely, just my cup of tea.
You can find some more food-related idioms here.
Tea leaf
This tea expression is something you might hear from British people, especially Londoners. It comes from cockney rhyming slang and means ‘thief’. This is because the word ‘leaf’ in tea leaf rhymes with ‘thief’.
“Who keeps taking all the pens? I think we have a tea leaf in this office!”
Cockney rhyming slang is almost a language in its own right.
What (do) the tea leaves say
Not to be confused with the above, this tea idiom, what the tea leaves say, is used when discussing future unknown events. Some people believe you can tell what the future holds for someone by looking at the patterns the leaves form after you drink tea.
“I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. I guess it depends on what the tea leaves say.”
There are plenty of other English idioms to describe the future.
Tea time
This is another popular tea-related phrase that may be confusing.
Tea time, in this case, means it is time for the evening meal (served around 5 or 6 o’clock). This expression is mainly used in British English and should not be confused with the drink tea, or even with afternoon tea (which is a light meal of specially prepared sandwiches and cakes served with tea to drink).
“Please come downstairs now, it’s tea time.”
Check out some more British idioms so you don’t get confused with trans-continental conversations.
Weak tea
Weak tea is a slang term for something that is disappointing, feeble, unconvincing or unimpressive.
“Everyone at the press conference found the announcement rather weak tea after all the buildup.”
This expression can be taken literally to refer to a cup of tea that hasn’t been left to brew for long enough and is, therefore, quite weak in taste.
As good as a chocolate teapot
It would make no sense to have a teapot made out of chocolate, but that is exactly the point of this tea idiom! To say it’s as good as a chocolate teapot is implying that something or someone is useless.
“Well, that didn’t work very well. It was about about as good as a chocolate teapot.”
There are other variations such as ‘As helpful as a chocolate teapot’ and ‘As useful as a chocolate teapot’.
Another slight alternative to this saying is using the word ‘fireguard’ instead of teapot. Either way, in a hot situation they would both melt, meaning they are unsuitable for the intended job.
Tea towel
A tea towel is another thing that has nothing to do with the drink tea or the mealtime. It is, in fact, a small cloth you use in the kitchen to dry plates, wipe up spills, or perhaps dry your hands. Then wash, dry, and reuse it.
“Grab the tea towel and help me with the dishes.”
In American English this item is more often called a dish towel. You can read about more differences between British and American English vocabulary here.
Spill the tea
Perhaps not one of the most popular tea idioms, but certain parts of the UK still say spill the tea to mean “Tell me the latest gossip”. You may also hear spill the beans.
“I heard you know about the new manager starting next week. Spill the tea, what’s she like?”
In fact, it’s more common to use the shorter version of just ‘spill it’ when you want to know more information. There are plenty of other fun talking idioms you can use day-to-day.
Which tea idioms on this list did you know and which were new to you? Keep improving your English every day and comment below if you need help with any expressions you hear.
You might also want to check out these drinking idioms for further inspiration. Or, if you’re more of a coffee person, we also have some idioms about coffee.
Do you want to be more confident using English? Why not try Grammarly’s free proofreading tool. It checks as you write and helps you correct and improve your spelling and grammar.
«Grandfather,» said little Alice, «I suppose Indians don’t love tea; else they would never waste it so.»
He had The Star with him and read it elaborately when she brought the tea.
(pointing with his tea spoon at the March Hare,) `—it was at the great concert given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing
The slop-basin was full of half-burned brown paper, over which tea had been poured.
«I can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table and pouring out the tea,» said Anne, shutting her eyes ecstatically.
Nikita said nothing but only shook his head, and carefully pouring some tea into his saucer began warming his hands, the fingers of which were always swollen with hard work, over the steam.
‘Now hand up the teapot for a little more hot water, and a pinch of fresh tea, and then both of you eat and drink as much as you can, and don’t spare anything; that’s all I ask of you.’
After eggs and bacon, it says, «Work!» After beefsteak and porter, it says, «Sleep!» After a cup of tea (two spoonsful for each cup, and don’t let it stand more than three minutes), it says to the brain, «Now, rise, and show your strength.
Bumble, stirring his tea, and looking up into the matron’s face; ‘are YOU hard-hearted, Mrs.
«Just a shade longer; I will pour out the tea, while we wait.
«When one has drunk two good cupfuls of Elder-flower tea, ’tis likely enough one goes into warm climates»; and she tucked him up nicely, least he should take cold.
Having so held and waved the candle as that all these heterogeneous objects seemed to come forward obediently when they were named, and then retire again, Mr Venus despondently repeats, ‘Oh dear me, dear me!’ resumes his seat, and with drooping despondency upon him, falls to pouring himself out more tea.
She asked me what I had been doing with myself during the summer, and with this help I managed to make some conversation till tea was brought in.
«There is nothing so refreshing after a sleepless night as a cup of this delicious Russian tea,» Lorrain was saying with an air of restrained animation as he stood sipping tea from a delicate Chinese handleless cup before a table on which tea and a cold supper were laid in the small circular room.
I’ve had tea half an hour ago, and had to make it myself, and drink it all alone!
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Russian tea
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чай с лимоном
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Iced tea
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чай со льдом
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White tea
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чай с молоком
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Husband’s tea
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очень слабый чай, «водичка» (шутливое)
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Weak tea
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слабый чай, жидкий чай
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Strong tea
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крепкий чай
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High tea
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«большой чай», ранний ужин с чаем (на севере Англии и в Шотландии)
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To make / brew [bruː] tea
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заваривать чай
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It’s not my cup of tea.
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Это не в моем вкусе. Это не моё.
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It’s another cup of tea.
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Это совсем другое дело.
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I will not do it for all the tea in China.
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Я не сделаю это ни за какие коврижки / ни за что на свете.
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What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
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Как это относится к делу?
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It’s as good as a chocolate teapot.
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От этого толку как от козла молока.
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A cuppa [‘kəpə] = a cup of tea
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чашка чая (неформально)
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To take tea with smb
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иметь с кем-л. отношения, вести с кем-л. дела
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A tempest [‘tempɪst] in a teapot
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буря в стакане воды
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Tea service [‘tiːˌsɜːvɪs]
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чайный сервиз
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A tea party
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званый чай
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A tea bag
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чайный пакетик
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A tea urn [‘tiːˌɜːn]
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самовар
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#SPO_TRAININGS# #BLOCK_23510#
cup of tea — нечто предпочтительное, желательное, любимое
Букв. «чья-л. чашка чаю»
Нечто приятное, знакомое, приходящееся по вкусу:
Teaching children to read is just my cup of tea. — Учить детей читать — это мое.
not one’s cup of tea — нечто чуждое
Букв. «не чья-л. чашка чаю»
«Не мой конек», «не мое»:
Going to church, Mary said, was not her cup of tea. — Ходить в церковь, сказала Мэри, ей не по нраву.
tea party — 1) безумная вечеринка 2) простое и приятное событие
Букв. «чаепитие»
1. Буйная, шумная, «безбашенная» вечеринка:
There was a loud tea party going on in the pub when Jess came in. — Когда Джесс вошла, в пабе как раз была шумная и буйная вечеринка.
2. Легкое и приятное событие, не вызывающее опасений и волнений:
The test was a real tea party. No sweat. — Экзамен был легким. Никакого напряга.
not for all the tea in China — ни за что на свете
Букв. «да ни за весь чай в Китае»
Ни за какую цену, ни за какие коврижки, никогда в жизни:
I wouldn’t give up my car, not for all the tea in China. — Я не отдам свою машину ни за какие богатства мира.
tempest in a teapot — буря в стакане воды
Букв. «буря в чайнике»
Также tempest in a teacup («буря в чайной чашке»), tempest in a glass of water («буря в стакане воды»), much ado about nothing (шекспировское, «много шума из ничего»); в британском варианте — storm in a teacup. Слишком бурная реакция на незначительное событие:
All that because a handful of the thousand invited guests didn’t show up? What a tempest in a teapot! — И все это потому, что кучка из тысячи приглашенных гостей не явилась? Что за буря в стакане воды!
tea and sympathy — сочувствие, сострадание
Букв. «чай и сочувствие»
Старомодное выражение, обозначающее поддержку и сострадание к тому, кто расстроен:
Sometimes people want practical advice and sometimes they just want tea and sympathy. — Порой нам нужен дельный совет, а порой — простое человеческое сочувствие.
- It’s not my cup of tea (Это мне не по вкусу)
- I wouldn’t do it for all the tea in China (Я этого не сделаю ни за какие коврижки)
- It’s as good as a chocolate teapot (От этого толку как от козла молока)
Hello, I’m a very interesting and intelligent man. And today, this tea and I will teach you some idioms in English.
I bet you’ve never been taught by some tea before.
Привет, я очень интересный и умный человек. И сегодня я вместе с этим чаем научу вас некоторым английским идиомам.
Готов спорить, вы никогда раньше не учились у чая.
I love tea. Of course I do, I’m an Englishman.
What’s this? It isn’t my cup of tea!
In English, if there’s something we don’t like very much for example a sport or a type of music, we can say «it’s not my cup of tea«.
It’s not my cup of tea.
Please turn that down. Jazz really isn’t my cup of tea.
Я очень люблю чай. Естественно, ведь я англичанин.
Что это? Это не моя чашка чая!
В английском языке, если нам не очень нравится, к примеру, занятия каким-то видом спорта или стиль музыки, мы можем сказать: «It’s not my cup of tea«.
It’s not my cup of tea. — Это мне не по вкусу.
Пожалуйста, убавьте звук. Джаз мне не по вкусу.
And now…
Time for a geography lesson. China is an extremely large country.
Can you imagine how much tea there is in China?
A lot.
Now, lucky you. Today I’m going to do anything at all that you ask.
So, come on…
Well, I wouldn’t do that for all the tea in China.
In English, if there is something we would never do, we can say «I wouldn’t do it for all the tea in China.»
I wouldn’t do it for all the tea in China.
It means there is nothing, not even something worth a great deal that could persuade you.
I can’t believe you asked me to… to do that.
А теперь…
Настало время заняться географией. Китай — огромная страна.
Представляете, сколько чая в Китае?
Много.
Вам повезло. Сегодня я исполню любую вашу просьбу.
Так что смелее…
Этого я не сделаю даже за весь чай Китая.
В английском языке, если мы никогда не сделаем чего-то, мы можем сказать: «I wouldn’t do it for all the tea in China«.
I wouldn’t do it for all the tea in China. — Я этого не сделаю ни за какие коврижки.
Это значит, что сделать это вас не убедит ничто, даже что-то очень ценное.
Мне просто не верится, что вы попросили меня… сделать это.
Tea is hot. Well, apart from iced tea.
And where do we make tea? That’s right. In a teapot.
So, as tea is very hot, what do you think is a good material for a teapot?
Porcelain yes, glass yes, metal ok, chocolate… NO!
A chocolate teapot would be completely useless.
In English, if something is completely useless, we can say «it’s as good as a chocolate teapot«.
It’s as good as a chocolate teapot.
What’s that you say? You say these lessons are as good as a chocolate teapot? I don’t know. I work so hard for you and no-one seems to understand me. Quite sad really.
Чай горячий. Ну, если не считать чая со льдом.
А где мы завариваем чай? Правильно, в чайнике.
А поскольку чай горячий, то какой материал подойдёт для изготовления чайника?
Да, фарфор, да стекло, подойдёт металл, а шоколад… НЕТ!
В английском языке о чём-то совершенно бесполезном можно сказать, что толку от этого «как от шоколадного чайника».
It’s as good as a chocolate teapot. — От этого толку как от козла молока.
Что ты говоришь? Говоришь, что от этих уроков толку как от козла молока? Не знаю. Я так стараюсь, а меня, похоже, никто не понимает. Очень печально.
См. также:
- spill the tea (сплетничать; рассказывать сплетни; раскрывать секреты)
- teetotal, teetotaller (трезвенник, непьющий человек)