Spill the tea

/spil thuh tee/

Verb

To spread gossip, reveal interesting details, or disclose secrets about someone’s personal life

ORIGIN

Gone are the days when the word tea refers only to the traditional plant-based beverage prepared by soaking the leaves in hot or boiling water.

Nowadays, tea can also refer to gossip, juicy information, or secrets about someone’s personal life, often shared in casual conversations. It can also mean the act of revealing or discussing interesting or scandalous details about a person or situation.

“Spill the tea” is a popular expression that refers to revealing information, sharing gossip, or disclosing intriguing personal stories, often involving private or unexpected details. 

This expression is commonly associated with drag culture and the LGBTQ+ community in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. Within these communities, the term “tea,” sometimes represented by the letter “T,” was used to refer to truth, personal information, or gossip shared in social interactions.

See Also

Truth body hears from mother who pins death of 4 sons on ‘DDS’

“Spill the tea” is commonly used in informal conversations, particularly among friends, to exchange the latest news about celebrities, mutual acquaintances, or noteworthy situations.

EXAMPLES

“Come on, spill the tea! What happened to them? Why did they break up?”

“My friends gathered after class to spill the tea about the celebrity couple circulating around social media.”