English · Emotions & Feelings
a storm in a teacup
/ə stɔːm ɪn ə ˈtiː.kʌp/
[/ə stɔːm ɪn ə ˈtiː.kʌp/]
fuss over nothing
Advancedphrase
Definition
A lot of unnecessary anger or worry about an unimportant matter.
Example
The argument about the seating plan was a storm in a teacup; by morning everyone had forgotten it.
The argument about the seating plan was a storm in a teacup; by morning everyone had forgotten it.
Etymology
A 19th-century British phrase; Americans say 'a tempest in a teapot' for the same idea.
How & Where It’s Used
Common for dismissing exaggerated reactions to trivial matters.