not for all the tea in China
Meaning: Under no circumstances.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “I wouldn't go back into that cave, not for all the tea in China.”
Category: Food & Drink
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 idioms — Food & Drink
- a hard nut to crack — A difficult problem, or a person who is hard to deal with.
- have a finger in every pie — To be involved in many different things at once.
- packed like sardines — Crowded very tightly together.
- cherry-pick — To choose only the best or most convenient items.
- on a silver platter — Given to someone without any effort on their part.
- like two peas in a pod — Very similar in looks or character.
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.
From our compliments & insults
- 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.