a storm in a teacup

Meaning: excessive fuss over something trivial; tempest in a teapot.

Language: English

Literally: a storm in a teacup

Category: Food & Drink

Origin: British phrase; dramatic weather imagery contrasted with tiny vessel.

More idioms — Food & Drink

• cry over spilled milk — to regret something past; useless to grieve over unchangeable events.
• hard pill to swallow — difficult to accept; unpleasant truth or reality.
• Hair of the dog — A morning drink taken to cure a hangover.
• Das ist mir Wurst — I couldn't care less either way.
• Jetzt geht's um die Wurst — Now it's crunch time — everything is at stake.
• Avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca — To want to have it both ways.

More English idioms

• get the ball rolling — to start something; to initiate a process.
• as tough as old boots — very strong; enduring; difficult to break.
• head honcho — the person in charge; the leader.
• up the creek without a paddle — in a difficult situation without means to escape.
• paint the town red — to celebrate wildly; to party extensively.
• get the short end of the stick — to receive unfair treatment; to get the worse deal.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…