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Hot or iced; fresh or preserved; with friends or on me time; tea can come in different presentations and any situations. Tea is a caffeinated beverage that soothes the nerves, heightens the taste of sweet treats, and bonds generations and cultures. Here are some slang words for tea that you could use while enjoying a cup.
Slang Words for Tea (in Alphabetical Order)
5 O'Clock Tea
Meaning:
- (Noun) A British tradition of drinking tea with a light snack usually around 3 to 5 PM.
- Example: Alice was invited to 5 o’clock tea by Hans’ parents.
Billy
Meaning:
- (Noun) An Australian slang for a teapot.
- Example: Jun was tasked to fill the billy for the visiting diplomat.
Brew
Meaning:
- (Noun) The Northern England way to call a tea.
- Example: Mia, please prepare the special brew for your grandparents this afternoon.
Cha
Meaning:
- (Noun) A conversational way to call tea in the UK.
- Example: I’m not really a fan of cha. Can I get a vanilla latte instead?
Cup of Tea
Meaning:
- (Noun) An invested interest or excelled field
- Example: While Chloe excels in her studies, writing is not really her cup of tea.
Cuppa
Meaning:
- (Noun) A British slang that shortened a “cup of tea”.
- Example: Mrs. Goodman brought cookies and offered a cuppa along with it.
Good as a Chocolate Teacup
Meaning:
- (Expression) Since chocolates melt in high temperatures, a chocolate teacup cannot hold hot tea in it. This expression conveys uselessness.
- Example: Some would argue that a smart watch is as good as a chocolate teacup since all its functions can be found in phones.
No Tea, No Shade
Meaning:
- (Expression) A slang word that acts as a disclosure statement for expressing truths only without the intent to hurt.
- Example: No tea, no shade, but why are you starting a relationship with our friend’s ex?
Not for all the Tea in China
Meaning:
- (Expression) A phrase that speaks out the extent of not doing a request or order.
- Example: Jake will not enter the haunted house, not for all the tea in China.
Rosie Lee
Meaning:
- (Noun) The British rhyming slang for tea in the UK.
- Example: Rosie Lee still needs time to prepare. Can you talk to the visitor while I wait for it?
Sip the Tea
Meaning:
- (Verb) “Tea” in GenZ slang is the hot gossip. To sip it means to process the gossip internally while forming one’s opinions.
- Example: Americans love to sip the tea on celebrity heartbreaks.
Spill the Tea
Meaning:
- (Verb) This is the other end of ‘sipping the tea’. To spill the tea is to tell the hot gossip.
- Example: The hairdresser spilled the tea as to who is the mayor’s mistress.
Storm in a Teacup
Meaning:
- (Expression) A British expression for problematizing a small concern.
- Example: Stop crying Kourtney, it’s just a pimple. It’s nothing but a storm in a teacup.
Tea Party
Meaning:
- (Noun) Pronouncing how easy things can be done.
- Example: I have expected every question they asked during the job interview. It was pretty much a tea party.
Whitener
Meaning:
- (Noun) A Canadian slang for the creamers or milk to be added to the tea.
- Example: Mrs. Blanchett had us pick our choice of whitener for breakfast.