- Home
- Idioms
- cup
cup
cup of joe
A cup of coffee. Though the true origin is unknown, "joe" as a synonym for coffee is theorized to either be a shortening of "jamoke" (a combination of Java and Mocha, two major suppliers of coffee beans), or as a reference to it being the drink of the ordinary man (i.e., the "average joe"). Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I can't even function in the morning until I've had my first cup of joe.
be not (one's) cup of tea
To not be something one prefers, desires, enjoys, or cares about. Thank you for the invitation, but long-distance cycling just isn't really my cup of tea. When I found out that reading wasn't his cup of tea, I knew that there wasn't much of a relationship in store between us.
be in (one's) cups
To be drunk. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were really in your cups!
cup one's hands together
to put one's hands together to form a sort of cup. He cupped his hands together and scooped up the water. You have to cup your hands together if you want a drink.
in one's cups
Euph. drunk. She doesn't make much sense when she's in her cups. The speaker—who was in his cups—could hardly be understood.
just one's cup of tea
Fig. to be something that one prefers or desires. til This spy novel is just my cup of tea. Teaching children to read is just my cup of tea.
My cup runneth over.
Prov. I have received so many benefits that I cannot contain them all. (Said when you feel overcome because many good things have happened to you.) This week, I finished paying off my mortgage, my arthritis improved, and my first grandchild was born. My cup runneth over. Janet was speechless with happiness when she saw how many of her friends and relatives had joined together to give her a surprise party. "My cup runneth over," she finally said.
not one's cup of tea
Fig. not one's choice or preference. (Used to describe an activity you do not enjoy. Can sound somewhat affected.) You three visit the museum without me. Looking at fussy old paintings is not my cup of tea. Going to church, Mary said, was not her cup of tea.
There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip
. Prov. Many things may happen to prevent you from carrying out what you intend to do. Bob: Now that I have a contract with a publisher, nothing in the world can stop me from writing this book. Alan: Don't be so sure. There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
not somebody's cup of tea
not what someone likes or is interested in
I realize a fantasy computer game is not everyone's cup of tea, but this one is amazing. Usage notes: also used without not: I like suspense in movies. It's my cup of tea.
not be somebody's cup of tea
if someone or something is not your cup of tea, you do not like them or you are not interested in them If Yeats isn't your cup of tea, why not try some of the more contemporary Irish poets?
be in your cups
(old-fashioned) to be very drunk When he was in his cups he would recite lines of poetry in a loud voice.
There's many a slip twixt cup and lip.
(literary) something that you say in order to warn someone not to be too confident about the result of a plan, because many things can go wrong before it is completed We still might finish in time for the deadline, but there's many a slip twixt cup and lip.
See fall through the cracks, let slipcup of tea, one's
Something that is in accord with one's liking or taste. For example, Quiz shows are just my cup of tea, or Baseball is not her cup of tea. The origin of this metaphorical expression has been lost, but the positive version-"he's my cup of tea"-has been used since the late 1800 and the negative- not one's cup of tea-since the 1920s.
in one's cups
Drunk, as in You can't believe anything he says when he's in his cups. [Early 1600s]
cup of tea
n. something preferred or desired. (Often negative.) Driving children around all afternoon is not my cup of tea.
cup of tea
1. Something that one excels in or enjoys: Opera is not my cup of tea.
2. A matter to be reckoned or dealt with: Recreational sport is relaxing. Professional sport is another cup of tea altogether.
in (one's) cups
Intoxicated; drunk.
my cup runneth over
Blessed with an overwhelming quantity of good things. The phrase comes from the twenty-third Psalm that begins “The Lord is my shepherd”: “Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.” This expression of an image of an overflowing bounty was once far more prevalent than it now is, primarily because there's now far less familiarity with the Bible.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Oleksiy | | - | Ukrainian |
| Ayelet | | - | Hebrew |
| Odell | | o-DEL | English |
| Deo | | - | Indian, Hindi |
| Dulce | | DOOL-the (Spanish), DOOL-se (Latin American Spanish) | Spanish, Portuguese |
| Epiphanius | | - | Ancient Greek (Latinized) |