Tea, Cream and Pudding ! - 5 Idioms with three english symbols
I don’t know about you but before arriving in the UK, my culinary image of England was tea, cream teas (with scones, clotted cream and jam) and pudding (treacle pudding, yorkshire pudding).
Twenty-eight years on (has it been that longn? !), my view hasn’t changed that much. The English still love their tea, afternoon tea/cream teas are as popular as ever and Roast Beef would be lost without Yorkshire pudding. So, it only seems natural that the English Language would have idioms that celebrate these English Treasures. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to these idioms.
1. Not One’s Cup of Tea - something that you don’t like
I’m afraid going around museums all day long is not my cup of tea.
2. Not for All the Tea in China (old-fashioned) - not for anything at all
I simply won’t do it - not for all the tea in China.
3. Cream of the Crop - the best of all
This particular TV is the cream of the crop.
4. Like the Cat that Got the Cream - looking very pleased with yourself for something that you have done. It normally annoys others.
Ever since Mark won that Sales award he has been going around the office looking like the cat that got the cream.
5. The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating - You cannot be sure of the quality of something until you have tested it.
A: I think that Oliver will be an excellent CEO.
B: Well, let’s see. The proof in the pudding is in the eating.
Have you seen these idioms before? Would you use them?
What is your favourite English Dish ?
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Ciao for now.
Guest blogger : Shanthi Streat
Graduated in Politics and International Studies from the University of Southampton, UK in 1989. After 20 years in the world of Finance in such varied fields as life assurance, stockbroking, fund management, and wealth management, she decided to re-train as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Trainer. She studied for the CELTA at International House, London in 2009 and has since been a freelance English Trainer both offline and online.
