cup of tea

noun phrase

1

: something one likes or excels in

I see already that storytelling isn't my cup of tea …

—John Barth

also : a person suited to one's taste

2

: a thing to be reckoned with : matter

… poltergeists are a different cup of tea …

—D. B. W. Lewis

Examples of cup of tea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Whether the inspiration is a damp forest floor, a steaming cup of tea or a kitchen full of holiday baking, shoppers are reaching for perfumes that evoke a specific moment and stick around long enough to keep telling that story. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is an 81-year-old woman who is mostly known for enjoying a cup of tea and minding her own business. —Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026

Afterward, enjoy a free cup of tea from the onsite cafe. —Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 1 June 2026

Unlike Eirina, another orangutan at the zoo, Hesty did not have extreme morning sickness that required daily cups of tea. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 30 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cup of tea

• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee
• appointee
• assessee
• assignee