IdiomFood & Drink
English
Englishnot for all the tea in China
Meaning: Under no circumstances.
Example: “I wouldn't go back into that cave, not for all the tea in China.”
Origin: China was the source of almost all the world's tea when the phrase appeared, so it named an unimaginable fortune. It is recorded from the early 20th century, first in Australian English.
Equivalents in other languages
German: keine zehn Pferde Literally: Not ten horses
More English idioms
- shut someone up To force someone to stop talking.
- a pack of lies A story that is entirely untrue.
- rein someone in To bring someone under control.
- keep one's feet on the ground To stay realistic and unaffected by success.
- be pocket change To be a trivial amount of money for the person paying.
- become second nature To become so familiar that one does it without thinking.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Testa di rapa A blockhead who isn't thinking.
- Du hast doch einen Vogel You're a bit out of your mind.
- Du gehst mir auf den Keks You're getting on my nerves.
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