nɒt jɔːr kʌp əv tiː
Food & Cooking
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- Not the tea that suits you
What does "not your cup of tea" mean?
- Not something you enjoy or are interested in
- Not to your taste or preference
Examples
- Horror movies aren't my cup of tea.
- Classical music isn't everyone's cup of tea.
- This style of art isn't really my cup of tea.
Origin
British expression from the early 20th century. Tea is so personal in British culture that 'your cup of tea' means your particular preference.
How to use it
Polite way to express dislike without being offensive. Very British but widely used.
Similar expressions
not my thing
not for me
not my preference
Opposites
right up my alley
just my style
Related idioms
- piece of cake
Something very easy to do
- a piece of cake
Something very easy to do
- in a nutshell
In a very brief or concise form
- an apple a day keeps the doctor away
Eating fruit or having a healthy diet helps maintain good health
- bite off more than you can chew
To take on more responsibility or work than one can handle
- don't put all your eggs in one basket
Don't risk everything on a single opportunity
Use it in a practice answer
Try "not your cup of tea" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.