cup (redirected from cupfuls)

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.

See also: hand, together

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.

See also: just, 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.

See also: 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.

See also: and, lip, many, slip

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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?

See also: tea

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 slip

See also: and, lip, many, slip, twixt

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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.

See also: tea