World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesStorm in a teacup
/ˌstɔːm ɪn ə ˈtiː.kʌp/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A great fuss or commotion over a trivial or unimportant matter.
"The argument over the office coffee machine turned out to be just a storm in a teacup." - 2
An unnecessary display of anger or anxiety regarding a minor issue.
"Don't worry about their disagreement; it is merely a storm in a teacup that will blow over by tomorrow."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from Cicero's Latin phrase 'excitare fluctus in simpulo', meaning 'to stir up waves in a ladle'. The modern English idiom emerged in the 19th century, substituting the ladle for a teacup to vividly capture the triviality of a disproportionate uproar.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Storm in a teacup"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Storm in a teacup" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
tempête dans un verre d'eau
Transliteration: tã-pɛt dɑ̃ œ̃ vɛʁ do
"Cette polémique n'est qu'une tempête dans un verre d'eau."
Sturm im Wasserglas
Transliteration: ʃtʊʁm ɪm ˈvasɐˌɡlas
"Die ganze Aufregung war nur ein Sturm im Wasserglas."
tempesta in un bicchier d'acqua
Transliteration: temˈpɛsta in un bikˈkjɛr ˈdakwa
"Quella discussione era solo una tempesta in un bicchier d'acqua."
tormenta en un vaso de agua
Transliteration: toɾˈmenta en un ˈbaso de ˈaɣwa
"No te preocupes, es una tormenta en un vaso de agua."
tempestade em copo d'água
Transliteration: tẽpɨʃˈtadʒi ẽ ˈkɔpu ˈdaɡwɐ
"Eles estão fazendo uma tempestade em copo d'água por causa de nada."
राई का पहाड़ बनाना
Transliteration: raai ka pahad banana
"छोटी सी बात पर झगड़ा करना राई का पहाड़ बनाने जैसा है।"
小题大做
Transliteration: xiǎo tí dà zuò
"这只是一场风波，大家不要小题大做。"
컵 속의 태풍
Transliteration: keop sog-ui taepung
"이번 논란은 결국 컵 속의 태풍에 불과했다."
コップの中の嵐
Transliteration: koppu no naka no arashi
"その問題は大げさに騒がれたが、ただのコップの中の嵐だった。"
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