cup
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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!
See also: cup
a storm in a teacup
A disproportionate reaction of anger, concern, or displeasure over some minor or trivial matter. If you ask me, these protests are nothing but a storm in a teacup that's been stoked by a media campaign of misinformation. I really think you're making a storm in a teacup over this. It's just a tiny scratch on the car!
a tempest in a teacup
A disproportionate reaction of anger, concern, or displeasure over some minor or trivial matter. If you ask me, these protests are nothing but a tempest in a teacup that's been stoked by a media campaign of misinformation. I really think you're making a tempest in a teacup over this. It's just a tiny scratch on the car!
cup (one's) hands together
To hold one's hands together to catch something (typically a liquid) in them. I cupped my hands together under the running water and splashed my face.
cup of tea
1. Something one prefers, desires, enjoys, or cares about. Often used in the negative to mean the opposite. I invited you because I thought long-distance cycling was your 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.
2. Something to be addressed or managed. She did finish all of her chores, but her homework is another cup of tea altogether.
not (one's) cup of tea
Not 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.
there's many a slip twixt cup and lip
Even something that one feels confident will succeed can have disastrous problems before it concludes. "Twixt" is a shortening of "betwixt," an archaic form of "between." Everything seems to be going smoothly, but there's many a slip twixt cup and lip, so don't lose focus until we're over the finish line.
in (one's) cups
Inebriated with alcohol. When you're in your cups, foolish ideas have a peculiar tendency of sounding like excellent ones. He called to apologize the following morning, claiming that he had been in his cups when he made those rude remarks.
See also: cup
(one's) cup runneth over
One has such an abundance of good things or happy benefits that one is overwhelmed by them or cannot contain them. Being able to spend my birthday surrounded by my beautiful children, my gorgeous husband, and so many wonderful friends, I can truly say my cup runneth over.
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.
See also: cup
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.
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.
in one's cups
Drunk, as in You can't believe anything he says when he's in his cups. [Early 1600s]
See also: cup
not be your cup of tea
COMMON If something or someone is not your cup of tea, you do not like them or feel interested in them. I've never been the greatest traveller. Sitting for hours on motorways is not really my cup of tea. He's attractive in a conventional way — he's just not my cup of tea. Note: You can also say that something or someone is your cup of tea when you like them or feel interested in them. I don't have much time for modern literature. Chaucer's more my cup of tea.
there is many a slip twixt cup and lip
LITERARYIf you say there is many a slip twixt cup and lip, you mean that plans often go wrong before they are completed so you cannot be sure of what will happen. The building is due for completion in September, but as they say, there's many a slip twixt cup and lip. Note: People sometimes just say there's many a slip, or change the second half of the expression. But there's many a slip twixt now and the eight or nine months it will take the company to design and reopen a new café. Note: `Twixt' is an old-fashioned word meaning `between'.
a storm in a teacup
BRITISHIf you say that a situation is a storm in a teacup, you mean people are very upset or annoyed about something that is not at all important and will soon be forgotten. Parnell said that he thought the whole matter a storm in a teacup, and that it would pass quickly. Note: The usual American expression is a tempest in a teapot.
in your cups
while drunk. informalIn your cups is now used mainly to mean ‘drunk’, but in former times the phrase could also mean ‘during a drinking bout’. Either could be intended in the passage in the Apocrypha regarding the strength of wine: ‘And when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords’ (1 Esdras 3:22).
1948 Vladimir Nabokov Letter I have received your letter… and can only excuse its contents by assuming that you were in your cups when you wrote it.
See also: cup
not your cup of tea
not what you like or are interested in. informala storm in a teacup
great excitement or anger about a trivial matter.A North American variant of this expression is a tempest in a teapot .
1998 Times A storm in a teacup? Who cares about a bunch of seeds?
not be somebody’s cup of ˈtea
(informal, spoken) not be the kind of person, thing or activity that you like: He invited me to the opera but it’s not really my cup of tea. OPPOSITE: be (right) up your streeta storm in a ˈteacup
(British English) (American English a tempest in a ˈteapot) (informal) a small or unimportant problem which is treated as much more serious than it really is: Don’t worry. It’s a storm in a teacup. Everyone will have forgotten about it by tomorrow.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.
See also: cup
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.