🗓️ Idiom: A Storm in a Teacup (n)
💬 Meaning
- A small problem that has been made to seem much more serious than it really is
- An overreaction to something minor
🧠 Example Sentences
- The team meeting turned into a storm in a teacup over a missing document.
- Investors were panicking, but it turned out to be a storm in a teacup.
- Don’t worry about the client’s email — it’s just a storm in a teacup.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom dates back to at least the 18th century and has appeared in many European languages. The British phrase “a storm in a teacup” uses the image of a dramatic storm happening in a very small, harmless place — a teacup — to show how people exaggerate minor issues.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The disagreement about the coffee machine was just ____________________.
Answer
a storm in a teacup
2. Choose the correct meaning:
What does “a storm in a teacup” mean?
a) A dangerous situation that causes real damage
b) A tiny problem that people overreact to
c) A relaxing break during work
Answer
b) A tiny problem that people overreact to
3. Change the sentence using “a storm in a teacup”:
“They’re acting like it’s a big deal, but the issue is actually very small.”
Answer
They’re making a storm in a teacup out of the issue.
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