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tempest in a teapot

tem·pest in a tea·pot
T t

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [tem-pist in ey tee-pot]
    • /ˈtɛm pɪst ɪn eɪ ˈtiˌpɒt/
    • /ˈtem.pɪst ɪn ə ˈtiː.pɒt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [tem-pist in ey tee-pot]
    • /ˈtɛm pɪst ɪn eɪ ˈtiˌpɒt/

Definitions of tempest in a teapot words

  • noun tempest in a teapot a cup in which tea is served, usually of small or moderate size. 1
  • noun tempest in a teapot a teacupful. 1
  • idioms tempest in a teapot tempest in a teacup / teapot, a disturbance or uproar about little or nothing: The fight over who should become the next assistant treasurer of the organization is just a tempest in a teacup. Also, storm in a teacup. 1
  • noun tempest in a teapot a great commotion over a small problem 0
See all 4 definitions of tempest in a teapot

Information block about the term

Origin of tempest in a teapot

First appearance:

before 1690
One of the 49% oldest English words
First recorded in 1690-1700; tea + cup

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Tempest in a teapot

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Tempest in a teapot

tempest in a teapot popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 90% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

tempest in a teapot usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for tempest in a teapot

noun tempest in a teapot

  • melodrama — a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause and effect and that exaggerates emotion and emphasizes plot or action at the expense of characterization.
Just one Synonym for tempest in a teapot

See also

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