Miriam
Fancy a cuppa?
I came across this phrase in the TV series Bodyguard and started to wonder what it really meant.

Does "Fancy a cuppa" only refer to tea in Great Britain or to any drink? Most resources state that it's about tea in British English. In this video about Aussie English, the teacher says that it can refer to both tea and coffee. And I did see an entry in a slang dictionary claiming that it can refer to any kind of drink. Is this phrase used in other English speaking countries as well? Can it also be an invitation to, well extent the date to private chambers for something more than just having a brew together?

And what kind of cuppa do people in your country fancy? In Germany, we're normally going for coffee but in the North of Germany there are some tea strongholds. Northern Germans drink black tea, with rock sugar and cream: <a href="https://foodal.com/drinks-2/tea/recipes-tea/keeping-up-with-tradition-the-german-east-frisian-tea-ceremony/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://foodal.com/drinks-2/tea/recipes-tea/keeping-up-with-tradition-the-german-east-frisian-tea-ceremony/</a>;
2020年5月24日 19:05
留言 · 26
5
As the 'private chambers' question.....well, I'd never thought of that. For me, 'cuppa' sounds too cosy and old-fashioned. Ah well, so many missed opportunities!

Now, then: coffee, that's another question. 'Come up for coffee' at the end of a date is another thing entirely.

Here's a classic exchange from the film 'Brassed Off':


2020年5月25日
5
Traditionally the invitation often continues 'I'll put the kettle on".

There's a nursery rhyme 'Polly, put the kettle on . .' which continues 'Suki, turn it off again, we'll all have tea.'
'La Liseuse' is in good company.
2020年5月24日
5
To me, in British English this only applies to tea. We have all kinds of other slang words for other kinds of drink. And yes, it can be a delicate invitation to, shall we say, extend a date :)
2020年5月24日
4
Thanks for the video. Cream delicately poured sounds good.

<em>And oh, all the broken hearts that you left for not realising that an invitation for a cuppa could be more than just a liquid refreshment...</em>

What I'm more worried about is all the people who may have misconstrued my innocent offers!


2020年5月25日
4
Yes, you're right, ❊Su.Ki., and the image you describe is what comes to my mind too.

❊<em>sorry, but old habits die hard, and that includes associating names with personalities, even 'virtual' ones.</em>

Miriam, "they never even had the tea", omg, what a great line !

. . and then there's another classic expression you use : "one thing led to another" ; I don't know whether this is just British or more general, perhaps others can comment.
2020年5月25日
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