people skilled in dinner conversation.

but I digress...

b. Phr. tea-pot tempest, tempest in a tea-pot (U.S.): = storm in a tea-cup
(see TEA-CUP 4). Also in similar phrases.

1854 ANDREWS Lat. Dict. s.v. Simpulum, Excitare fluctus in simpulo,..to raise a tempest in a teapot. Cic. Leg. 3. 16, 36. 1891 Cent. Dict. s.v. Tempest, A tempest in a tea-pot, a great disturbance over a small matter. 1896 Peterson Mag. Jan. 104/1 What a ridiculous tea-pot tempest! 1928 R. CAMPBELL Wayzgoose i. 16 Storms in a teapot often have occurred. 1942 T. DUBOIS Body goes round & Round xiii. 172 You have been indulging in your favourite occupation of stirring up a tempest in a teapot. 1973 Times 1 Aug. 6/5 Senator Ervin said the issue of whether the subpoenas were continuing was ‘a difference in a teapot’.

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