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British Tea Translator (startrek.website)
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[-] HexesofVexes@lemmy.world 57 points 11 months ago

"Time for tea I think" - I'm going on a break, do not follow me with work

"We're out of tea" - Ight, I'mma head out

[-] Raine_Wolf@lemm.ee 4 points 11 months ago

I wonder if that second meaning is how "tea" began to also mean "gossip"

[-] poppy@lemm.ee 8 points 11 months ago

It started as “T” for “truth” and evolved into “tea” with wordplay with “spill the tea”.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/tea-slang-meaning-origin

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[-] octoperson@sh.itjust.works 41 points 11 months ago

In lesson 2, the semantics of tea vs brew vs cuppa

[-] The_Picard_Maneuver@startrek.website 22 points 11 months ago

I'd like to learn this too.

[-] octoperson@sh.itjust.works 34 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Tbh, I was hoping some other Brit with actual social skills would drop by with the answer, then I could pretend to have known all along. I think it indicates increasing familiarity, something like

  1. Tea - you are a person who might want tea
  2. Cuppa - we are on friendly terms and I consider you my social equal
  3. Brew - I would trust you with my life and call you wanker to your face
[-] smeg@feddit.uk 10 points 11 months ago

I'd say it's much more regional, for instance brew is much more a northern thing.

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[-] Very_Bad_Janet@kbin.social 8 points 11 months ago

Please use brew in a sentence that reflects your theory.

[-] averagedrunk@lemmy.ml 16 points 11 months ago
[-] Very_Bad_Janet@kbin.social 3 points 11 months ago
[-] octoperson@sh.itjust.works 7 points 11 months ago

Uh... "Does your Royal Majesty fancy a brew?".
It doesn't feel right when you don't have a reasonably close relationship.

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[-] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 25 points 11 months ago

"NOT IN THE HARBOR!!!!": Their American cousins are over for a visit.

[-] Mr_Blott@lemmy.world 21 points 11 months ago

*Harbour, you fuckin degenerate 😅

[-] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 8 points 11 months ago

At least we actually pronounce the R instead of somehow cancelling it by adding an unpronounced letter.

[-] Glytch@ttrpg.network 5 points 11 months ago

Unless you're from Boston, in which case it's pronounced "Hah-bah"

[-] LoamImprovement@ttrpg.network 5 points 11 months ago

Pahk yah cah in the hahbah cah-pahk, Mahk!

[-] Mr_Blott@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Says the guy that sounds like they're having an aneurysm when saying "squirrel" or "mirror" 😜

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[-] Fleur__@lemmy.world 23 points 11 months ago

How does English society even function

[-] teft@startrek.website 56 points 11 months ago

Liberal amounts of tea by the looks of it.

[-] noseatbelt@lemmy.ca 22 points 11 months ago

Aggressive queueing.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 16 points 11 months ago

I'm from the Commonwealth and I don't see anything wrong. Which part of this doesn't make sense? Would it help understanding if you swapped tea for coffee?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Lots of caffeine.

[-] Nalivai@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 11 months ago

Imperfectly, to say the least

[-] BirdyBoogleBop@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 11 months ago

Mate, you need a cup of tea = you are having a really hard time right now and I hope that a cup of tea might be of some comfort to you.

Right! I'm getting tea = it's the morning and I'm already sick of everything.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 17 points 11 months ago

My English father and grandmother just said, "do you want tea?" Can someone tell me the translation of that?

[-] cynar@lemmy.world 22 points 11 months ago

It often translates as "do you have time to stay and chat, or do you have stuff to get on with?". It's an invitation to relax together, without the implicit social demand.

English social etiquette is a minefield, even for the English.

[-] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

What should one do when the visiting Brit wants coffee? Do they need medical attention?

[-] cynar@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

It's generally a sign that they are in a very bad place, mentally. It's a bit like an Aussie who doesn't swear, or a rude Canadian. It's just wrong.

As for what to do? Obviously make them a nice cup of tea, to calm down. Use force if necessary.

[-] DillyDaily@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago

With my Nan, this means that she's just finished a cup but she'll happily put the kettle back on if you'd like one, but she's not going to just start making tea because she's alright for now, but if are having one she'll join you for another.

If it had been more than 1 hour since her last cuppa she'd just say "I'm putting the kettle on" and that was that, everyone in the house without their milk teeth was getting a cup of tea shoved in their hands once the kettle had boiled.

[-] hydrospanner@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

Something I've wanted to ask a Real Brit™ for a while now, since I'm trying to slowly transition from coffee to tea on the days I'm working from home:

For the standard, basic tea you're drinking all day, can you give me the specifics of what you use and how it's prepared?

I'm assuming the kettle is just for the water and you're not actually brewing a kettle full of tea? What kind is standard quality? Is it Earl Gray, English Breakfast, or is it just plain old "tea"? Bags? Loose leaf with an infuser?

And do most drink it plain? With sugar? Milk? Honey?

And are folks generally just constantly drinking it throughout the entire day?

For coffee, I'll drink 1 or 2 cups, guaranteed minimum, fairly quickly every morning (both down by 930 or 10) and then the next cup after 10 I'll usually nurse through the afternoon until maybe 1 or 130, then that's it for coffee...but it seems like tea in the UK is just all day, every day.

[-] thegiddystitcher@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago

Some people will definitely do the all day every day thing but a lot of us just play it up for the internet really. I have a cuppa when I get up, and that's usually it. Although admittedly my "cup" is a big Green Bay Packers travel mug that keeps it warm for hours, so probably counts as at least two regular cups.

On days like today when I'm a bit under the weather I'll have a second one to get me through, and then me and the husband have developed a definitely unhealthy habit of late-night tea and Hobnobs although I go with a normal size cup for that one!

Older people especially seem to drink a lot out of sheer boredom. Also office workers, same reason.

Kettle is just for the water, most people use teabags. Loose leaf is "fancy". I believe english breakfast is the kind that I would just think of as "normal tea" but not 100% sure on that one, it's just tea! 😅

Milk is very common to the point of being default, sugar is more of an individual question. I often drink mine black with honey at home but just go with the default milk when out and about.

I hope this boringly factual tale of life in Tea Country was everything you hoped it would be.

[-] hydrospanner@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

I hope this boringly factual tale of life in Tea Country was everything you hoped it would be.

Yes! It was great, thank you!

[-] tegs_terry@feddit.uk 7 points 11 months ago

Boil kettle > put 'regular' tea eg PG Tips in ceramic mugs adorned with greeting-card-grade pro-tea sentiment > pour > stir with vigour > squeeze bags between two tea spoons for added strength > place bags in the spent bag vessel > milk to order > sugar? > one lump (spoonful) or two? > final stir and deliver.

Remember to use the spoon to scoop and stir so yellow clumps of congealed sugar begin to appear in the bag and a permanent residual rime forms about the tip of the spoon.

[-] hydrospanner@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Assuming "PG Tips" is a brand of tea?

Excellent, to the point guide, thank you!

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

They weren't that insistent, but they were definitely taken aback when you said you didn't want tea.

[-] Khanzarate@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Feels like it's the "family" answer. Basically the first one, the "guest" answer, but more relaxed because you're closer.

[-] fox2263@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Probably means food. The evening meal.

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[-] spudwart@spudwart.com 16 points 11 months ago

What does "This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice" translate to?

[-] minibyte@sh.itjust.works 11 points 11 months ago

Coffee is nothing more than bean soup.

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[-] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 16 points 11 months ago

"Have you had your tea yet?" = "Have you had dinner yet"

[-] Mr_Blott@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

You missed a nuance -

"You'll have had your tea?"

Meaning "I am offering dinner but secretly hoping you refuse it because I can't really spare it"

[-] BluesF@feddit.uk 15 points 11 months ago

"Would you like a cup of tea before you go?" - I would like you to leave now.

"Right, kettle's on" - thank god I am now finally able to sit down and relax

[-] Ilflish@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago

"Quick tea?" -> This conversation has just swapped from small talk to a discussion and I need a way to mentally prepare myself

[-] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 7 points 11 months ago
[-] samus12345@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

"WTF is an Orange Whip?"

Ah, okay.

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[-] Mr_nutter_butter@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

Can confirm this is an accurate translation

[-] bernieecclestoned@sh.itjust.works 5 points 11 months ago

Cuppa splosh?

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this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
892 points (98.2% liked)

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