Tea-related phrases

Posted by R. Berg on October 15, 2001

In Reply to: Meanings and origins posted by Phillippa Grace on October 15, 2001

: I am looking for the meanings and/or origins of the following:

: Tea for two and two for tea

: A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

: A tempest in a teapot
:
: As useless as a chocolate teapot

: Born with a silver spoon in his mouth

: Fit to a T

: Not for all the tea in China

: Not my cup of tea

: Suits you down to a tee

: The cup that cheers

: There's many a slip twixt cup and lip

: Wake up and smell the coffee

: It's not worth crying over spilt milk

"Tea for two and two for tea": Title of song popular in early 20th century.

"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down": Song from the film "Mary Poppins," 1964.

"The cup that cheers but does not inebriate": Slogan promoting tea as an alternative to alcohol, mid-19th century; associated with the temperance movement.

Tea-related phrases - silver spoon ESC 10/15/01
- Tea-related phrases - silver spoon ESC 10/16/01
- Tea-related phrases - fit to a T James Briggs 10/15/01
  - Tea-related phrases - fit to a T Bob 10/15/01
    - Tea-related phrases - fit to a T ESC 10/16/01
      - Tea-related phrases ESC 10/16/01
  - Tea-related phrases - fit to a T Bob 10/15/01