tea-things
Definition
Noun (plural only): - Utensils for serving tea: "tea-things" refers to the set of items used in the preparation, serving, and consumption of tea, such as a teapot, cups, saucers, spoons, and a sugar bowl. It is a slightly old-fashioned or colloquial term, synonymous with "tea set" or "tea service."
Usage Examples
- (She brought out the teapot, cups, and other items for serving tea.)
- (The shop had a set of old, valuable utensils for serving tea.)
- (Please clean the cups, saucers, and teapot used for tea.)
Advanced Usage
"to put away the tea-things": to clear and store the items used for tea.
- After the guests left, she put away the tea-things. (She cleaned and stored the teapot, cups, and other utensils.)
"a set of tea-things": a complete collection of matching items for serving tea.
- He inherited a delicate porcelain set of tea-things from his grandmother. (He received a matching set of fine china teapot and cups.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tea set (n): a matching collection of teapot, cups, saucers, and often a sugar bowl and creamer.
- The wedding gift was a beautiful bone china tea set. (A matching set of tea-serving items.)
- Tea service (n): the complete array of items used for serving tea, often more formal than a tea set.
- The hotel provided a silver tea service in the lobby. (A formal set of teapot, cups, and serving pieces.)
- Tea-things is a compound word; note that "things" here is a general noun meaning "items" or "objects," not the specific word "thing" used alone.
Synonyms
- Tea set: a matching collection of cups, teapot, etc.
- Tea service: a formal or complete set of tea utensils.
- Tea equipage: a somewhat archaic term for the necessary items for making and serving tea.
Related Idioms
- Not my cup of tea: something that is not to one's liking.
- Opera is not my cup of tea. (I do not enjoy it.)