Not For All the Tea in China

Meaning of Idiom ‘Not For All the Tea in China’

Not for all the tea in China means not for any price or reward; never; not at all. ¹,²,³

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Examples Of Use

“I wouldn’t date her again for all the tea in China. She’s crazy!”

“You’re going to have to give up smoking,” said the doctor. “Forget it!” said Floyd. “Not for all the tea in China!” “It’s your funeral,” said the doctor.

“He’s my friend. I don’t care what he did. I’m not going to betray him for all the tea in China.”

Origin

This idiom originated in Australia during the late 1800s. It alludes to the huge amount of tea in China. For many years, in fact, China was the sole source of tea for the entire world. ⁴,⁵

More Idioms Starting with N

• Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat
• No Siree
• No Pain, No Gain
• No Hard Feelings
• Nine to Five (9 to 5)

More All Idioms

• All Tuckered Out
• All Hell Breaks Loose
• All of a Sudden
• After All
• All That Glitters Is Not Gold

More China Idioms

More Food (and Beverage) Idioms

• I Could Murder (A Food/Drink)
• Go Pear-shaped
• Chopped Liver
• Low-Hanging Fruit
• Know Which Side Your Bread is Buttered On

More Not Idioms

• Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat
• Not the Only Fish in the Sea
• I Hope Not
• Not Lift a Finger
• Not Much to Look At

More Tea Idioms

• Not My Cup of Tea

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References

1. Ammer, Christine.  American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
2. Jarvie, Gordon. Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms]. London: Bloomsbury, 2009.
3. Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.
4. Ammer, Christine.  American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
5. Jarvie, Gordon. Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms]. London: Bloomsbury, 2009.