all the tea in China
A priceless amount or value; something of such great value that it cannot be quantified. Just a glimpse of your smile is worth all the tea in China to me.
What's that got to do with the price of tea in China?
A rhetorical question calling attention to a non-sequitur or irrelevant statement or suggestion made by another person. Yes, I agree that health care is an important issue, but what's that got to do with the price of tea in China? We're discussing tax incentives for local businesses—not exactly a related topic!
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.
a storm in a teakettle
A disproportionate reaction of anger, concern, or displeasure over some minor or trivial matter. (A less common variant of "a tempest in a teacup/teapot.") If you ask me, these protests are nothing but a storm in a teakettle that's been stoked by a media campaign of misinformation. I really think you're making a storm in a teakettle over this. It's just a tiny scratch on the car!
a tempest in a teakettle
A disproportionate reaction of anger, concern, or displeasure over some minor or trivial matter. (A less common variant of "a tempest in a teacup/teapot.") If you ask me, these protests are nothing but a tempest in a teakettle that's been stoked by a media campaign of misinformation. I really think you're making a tempest in a teakettle over this. It's just a tiny scratch on the car!
a storm in a teapot
A disproportionate reaction of anger, concern, or displeasure over some minor or trivial matter. (A less common variant of "a tempest in a teacup/teapot.") If you ask me, these protests are nothing but a storm in a teapot that's been stoked by a media campaign of misinformation. I really think you're making a storm in a teapot over this. It's just a tiny scratch on the car!
weak tea
slang Something that is particularly underwhelming or unimpressive. Many have felt like the president's run in office has been rather weak tea compared to the bold promises he made during his campaign.
what does that have to do with the price of tea in China
A rhetorical question calling attention to a non-sequitur or irrelevant statement or suggestion made by another person. Yes, I agree that health care is an important issue, but what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? We're discussing tax incentives for local businesses—not exactly a related topic!
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.
not for all the tea in China
Fig. not even if you rewarded me with all the tea in China; not for anything at all. No I won't do it—not for all the tea in China.
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.
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?
tea and sympathy
(old-fashioned) kindness and sympathy that you show to someone who is upset Sometimes people want practical advice and sometimes they just want tea and sympathy.
would not do something for all the tea in China
(old-fashioned) if you say that you would not do something for all the tea in China, you mean that nothing could persuade you to do it I wouldn't be a teacher for all the tea in China.
cup 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.
not for all the tea in China
Not at any price, never, as in
I wouldn't give up my car, not for all the tea in China. This term originated in Australia and alludes to the presumed huge quantity of tea in China. [Late 1800s] Also see
for all the world;
not for love or money.
tempest in a teapot
Also,
tempest in a teacup. A great disturbance or uproar over a matter of little or no importance. For example,
All that because a handful of the thousand invited guests didn't show up? What a tempest in a teapot! This expression has appeared in slightly different forms for more than 300 years. Among the variations are
storm in a cream bowl, tempest in a glass of water, and
storm in a hand-wash basin. The British prefer
storm in a teacup. The current American forms were first recorded in 1854. For a synonym, see
much ado about nothing.