china

*bull in a china shop

Prov. a very clumsy creature in a delicate situation. (*Typically: as awkward as ~; like ~.) I never know what to say at a funeral. I feel like a bull in a china shop, trampling on feelings without even meaning to. Lester felt like a bull in a china shop; reaching for an orange, he made several elaborate pyramids of fruit tumble down.

See also: bull, shop

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.

See also: tea

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be like a bull in a china shop

to often drop or break things because you move awkwardly or roughly Rob's like a bull in a china shop - don't let him near those plants. She's like a bull in a china shop when it comes to dealing with people's feelings. (= behaves in a way that offends people)

See also: bull, like, shop

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.

See also: tea