In this article you'll find:
What does it mean to spill the tea?
You’ve heard of spilling the tea, but what does it mean? These people can’t really be going around spilling tea everywhere, right? Of course not. They’re dishing the hot goss – AKA sharing something personal that isn’t necessarily theirs to share.
Let’s look at what the phrase “spill the tea” means, where it originated, and how to use it (and whether or not you should use it).
What does spilling the tea mean?
Urban Dictionary defines “spill the tea” as when someone shares a particularly salacious piece of gossip. It can be about you, but it’s usually about someone or something else.
For example, suppose I were to give you information about Dotty’s rocky relationship with Lenny, well. In that case, I’d be spilling tea (what, don’t you know Dotty and Lenny?).
Sorry, Kermit, not everyone knows what it means to spill the tea, but that IS my business.
Yes, there are types of tea.
There are a few different types of tea: weak, hot, and cold.
If you were disappointed with the gossip, possibly because it’s not that interesting, it would be considered “weak tea.” I guess some people just don’t care that Dotty only bought Lenny a tie for Valentine’s Day while he took her to Paris (*shrug*).
Weak tea is also considered to be half-truths. Larry Wilmore used the phrase often on his show, “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore,” in the segment “Keep it 100,” in which he called out people who weren’t telling the complete truth.
If the gossip is incredibly juicy, then it’s considered “hot tea.” For instance, any talk concerning Beyonce and Jay-Z is bound to be hot, as are rumors about Prince Harry and Meaghan Markle.
For example: “Beyonce and Jay-Z thrilled fans with a surprise appearance at the Grammy’s; stunning viewers in elegant, all-black outfits. From the looks on their faces, they didn’t expect to be on camera.”
Finally, cold tea (or iced tea) is old gossip or something that everyone knew already.
Where did the saying originate?
Like many of the best slang words and phrases, “tea” originated in black drag culture. Lady Chablis, a famous transgender drag performer in Savannah, Georgia, first used a similar saying in 1994, which evolved into the beloved slang term you hear now.
In the best-selling book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Lady Chablis said:
“The fact that I’m a beautiful woman is clear . . . but the fact that I have a penis, well, that’s my T, that’s my Truth.”
“Your T?”
“Yeah, my T. My thing, my business, what’s goin’ on in my life.”
— Lady Chablis, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, 1994
To spill the “T” (or “tea”) meant to share your truth or someone else’s truth. The saying increased in popularity and eventually began to encompass all gossip.
Some claim the saying originated in the gay community in Texas. “Spill the tea” alludes to the concept of Southern ladies gathering together, drinking tea, and gossiping about others. Not totally unbelievable, I suppose.
How would you use it in a sentence?
Now that you know what it means, let’s explore a few ways to work it into a conversation. After all, you need to know how to use all the hot slang (just in case).
Me: “Did you hear about Tasha and her new job?”
You: “No, spill the tea!”
Me: “OMG did you know that J-Lo and A-Rod are breaking up?”
You: “No way! That’s some hot tea!”
Me: “Girl, did you see Harry Styles’ banana necklace at the Grammy’s? Scandalous!”
You: “Eh, that’s weak tea. All bananas kind of look like… well, you know.”
Other slang for “spill the tea”
- What’s the hot goss (gossip)
- Give me all the deets (details)
- Dish the gossip
- Spill the beans
- Give me the scoop
The wrap up
So, what does spilling the tea mean? Well, it means you’re spouting off the hot gossip. You’re sharing all the juicy details. You’re talking about someone else’s business.
Now that I’ve spilled the tea on “spilling the tea,” all that’s left is to decide whether to use it. Should you? I don’t know, that’s up to you. But let me offer some advice: if you had to ask Google what “spill the tea” means, and you haven’t heard the term before today, it’s probably best to let it steep for now.
