a storm in a teacup
noun phrase
British
: a situation in which people are very angry or upset about something that is not important
The whole controversy turned out to be a storm in a teacup.
Examples of a storm in a teacup in a Sentence
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On National Tea Day, if everyone who felt trouble brewing took this simple step, whether virtually or in person, maybe more issues would just turn out to be a storm in a teacup.
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Anna Shields, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
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Anna Shields, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“A storm in a teacup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20storm%20in%20a%20teacup. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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