“Cup of Tea” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on October 8, 2024 by Liam Daniel

A common idiom that you will hear when listening to the English language is cup of tea, but what does this mean? In this article, we are going to take a look at the meaning of this term as well as where it first came from. We are also going to take a look at some examples of how the phrase is used within a conversation.

“Cup of Tea” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • The phrase “cup of tea” means something that a person enjoys or prefers, or something that suits their taste or interest. It is often used in a positive or negative context, such as when expressing personal likes or dislikes.
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“Cup of Tea” Meaning

The phrase “cup of tea” is used to describe something that one enjoys or prefers. It often indicates that a particular activity or interest is suited to someone’s tastes or preferences. The phrase is frequently used in the negative form, as in “not my cup of tea,” to express that something is not to someone’s liking.

Examples:

  • Literal: “Would you like a cup of tea?”
  • Figurative: “Hiking isn’t really my cup of tea; I prefer indoor activities.”

Origin of this Interesting Term

The phrase cup of tea comes from the 1800’s and then over 100 years later in the 1920’s the word not was added onto the start of the phrase to create a negative version of it.

Usage of “Cup of Tea” 

  • Expressing personal preference:

“Rock music isn’t really my cup of tea, but I enjoy classical music.”

  • In a casual conversation:

“She loves going to parties, but it’s not my cup of tea. I prefer quieter gatherings.”

  • Talking about interests:

“Gardening is her cup of tea. She could spend hours working in her garden.”

  • Referring to a skill:

“Math was never my cup of tea, but I always excelled in writing.”

Related Terms to “Cup of Tea” 

  • Brew – a general term for tea or coffee that is made by steeping.
  • Chai – a spiced tea popular in many cultures, especially in South Asia.
  • Tea time – a traditional time for enjoying tea, often accompanied by snacks or light meals.
  • Favorite pastime – an activity or interest that someone particularly enjoys.
  • Not my thing – a phrase indicating that something is not of personal interest or preference.
  • Preferred choice – something that is favored or chosen over other options.
  • Cup of joe – slang for a cup of coffee, indicating a casual beverage preference.
  • Comfort beverage – a drink that provides a sense of comfort or pleasure, often associated with relaxation.
  • In one’s element – being in a situation that one enjoys and is comfortable in.
  • Taste – a person’s individual preferences or likes regarding activities, food, or drinks.

Other Ways to Say the Idiom

There are other ways in which you might refer to the meaning of the term cup of tea.

Here are some examples to demonstrate this.

  • To my taste
  • Something I like
  • Hobby
  • Favorite

“Cup of Tea” Examples

Examples in Statements

We are now going to take a look at some examples of how the term cup of tea might look in a sentence.

The first statement is being made by a student at school.

  • I love English lessons but maths is more my cup of tea.

The second statement is being made by a husband to his wife.

  • If you want to go out for dinner, can we go to a Thai place because that’s more my cup of tea?

Conversation Examples

The term cup of tea might appear in many different conversations so in order to further understand its use, here are some examples of what you might hear.

The first conversation is taking place between two friends.

  • Person 1: “Shall we go and see a movie?”
  • Person 2: “Yes, what did you want to see?”
  • Person 1: “I was thinking of a horror movie.”
  • Person 2: “No, the action is more my cup of tea.”

The next conversation is between two people in the workplace.

  • Person 1: “Can you send these emails to me please.”
  • Person 2: “Why can’t you do it?”
  • Person 1: “Technology isn’t really my cup of tea.”

More useful examples:

  • Tomato soup is my cup of tea.
  • Skiing isn’t really my cup of tea.
  • Thanks for inviting me, but ballet isn’t really my cup of tea.
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