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

There is not enough evidence to recommend a specific number of cups of tea for liver health. — Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 9 Sep. 2026

Supremely comfortable beds make for the perfect place to slurp a cup of tea as the sun rises over London, turning the sky flamingo pink. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

My slow summer took the form of a cup of tea in the morning on the deck! — Sari Hitchins, Parents, 5 Sep. 2026

The hot tea is clearly at a much higher temperature than the iceberg, but the large iceberg has vastly more energy than the tiny cup of tea. — Matthew Koss, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 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