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Region: US | Usage example: Come on, spill the tea—what did they say?

Spill the tea

Meaning

Share juicy gossip.

Usage

Used in casual contexts for revealing stories.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

From 'spill the beans' and tea culture; popular in Black queer slang.

Gained traction online during the 2010s.

Related Idioms

Spill your guts

Confess everything.

Spill the beans

Reveal a secret or disclose information prematurely.

Barking up the wrong tree

Accusing or pursuing the wrong person/idea; making a false assumption.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.