Meaning of “Tempest in a Teapot”
“Tempest in a teapot” is a phrase that describes a situation whereby a person or a number of people greatly exaggerate a certain issue and make it seem like a big deal. The idiom is usually employed when referring to trivial problems, squabbles or other minor dilemmas that are exaggerated unnecessarily, which results in creation of unnecessary drama and further complications.
For example, if two employees engage in a bitter and confrontational exchange of words over a trivial mistake like a clerical error, one shall not hesitate to term it as a tempest in a teapot. It means that the effort and passion put into the situation are disproportionate to the issue at hand.
In the broader context, the phrase “tempest in a teapot” can be used to refer to any circumstances that people create a storm over a issue that is insignificant in the end. It is quite a helpful message to learn to not let the minor issues become the major issues and causes of conflicts.
Origin of “Tempest in a Teapot”
The use of this phrase has been dated back to 1790 when it was first used in a German satirical play namely ‘Tempest in a Teapot’ or ‘Storm in a Teacup’ written by George C. Dandin.
The use of the imagery was further enhanced in the year 1819 by Sir Walter Scott in his novel Ivanhoe where he used the phrase; The tempest in my mind is quite as bitter as if I had the world’s wrongs on my conscience.
In the 19th century, the phrase “tempest in a teapot” became more popular in the English speaking world as a way of expressing that much was being made over comparatively trifling matters.
As for example, a political cartoon from 1877 showed President Rutherford B. Hayes as if he was creating a storm in a teacup, which means overemphasized issues.
The phrase became popular in the English language by the early twentieth century to describe situations where there was exaggerated excitement, exaggerated response, and lack of proportion.
The symbolism of a teapot for a storm which is far too small to contain a real tempest tells us to remain reasonable and composed in the face of the everyday troubles or quarrels.
Use of “Tempest in a Teapot” in Literature
The phrase tempest in a teapot has been used in the literary works to express opinions on human behavior, interpersonal relations, and ridiculous behavior.
This idiom has been used by writers to make statements about characters, to lampoon culture or to observe how petty squabbling can lead to major conflict. Below we are going to discuss few uses of the phrase ‘tempest in teapot’ in literature and evaluate their importance.
Example#1
“Modern Accomplishments, or the March of Intellect” by Catherine Sinclair
As stated above, the idiom “tempest in a teapot” was introduced into the English-speaking world by Scottish writer Catherine Sinclair in her novel of 1830 Modern Accomplishments, or the March of Intellect.
In this work, Sinclair employs the above phrase in the context of petty arguments of her creations, pointing at how people exaggerate unimportant issues.
“The Germans were always very much grieved by their little squabbles, and called them ‘A storm in a teacup,’ a phrase which seemed to embody the perfect absurdity of their disputes.”
In this passage, the author employs the British idiom ‘tempest in a teapot’ (equal phrase of ‘storm in a teacup’) in order to stress that all the fights depicted by her were rather petty.
Thus, using this particular idiomatic expression, Sinclair aims at pointing to the fact and divergent ways people act and behave, concentrating on petty squabbles, which, in reality, are unimportant and do not deserve the attention they are given.
Example#2
“The Scarlet Feather” by Houghton Townley
Although, Samuel Johnson’s dictionary is not a piece of narrative literature; however, it is a historical work in which the author includes “tempest in a teapot” as an idiomatic expression – Johnson references an earlier usage of the phrase, which implies that the phrase concerns unimportant issues that are blown out of proportion.
“I have no doubt that this tempest in a teapot will blow over in a day or two.”
When Johnson included the phrase in his dictionary he definitely helped the phrase to become a part of the English language; as an idiom to diminish the significance of trivial incidents.
Example#3
“A Dictionary of the English Language” by Samuel Johnson
Though, Samuel Johnson’s dictionary is not a piece of narrative literature; however, it is a historical work in which the author includes “tempest in a teapot” as an idiomatic expression – Johnson references an earlier usage of the phrase, which implies that the phrase concerns unimportant issues that are blown out of proportion.
“Tempest in a teapot: A great commotion about something of little importance.”
Johnson contributed to its fixation in the language as an idiomatic expression that people use to downplay the significance of minor issues.
Example#4
“Things We Lost in the Fire” by Mariana Enriquez
In this collection of short stories by Mariana Enriquez, the phrase “a tempest in a teapot” highlights situations where small incidents suddenly turn into bigger struggles and conflicts.
“They argued and argued over the missing key, each one certain the other was to blame. It became a tempest in a teapot, dragging in all their past resentments until the key was forgotten, but the bitterness remained.”
This example also shows how such a small problem as the missing key may turn into a conflict that is unnecessary and disproportionate, which can be called a “tempest in a teapot”.
Use of “Tempest in a Teapot” in Modern Contexts
The phrase “tempest in a teapot” remains popular in today’s society and is often used to describe the behaviour of a single person, a company, or an entire nation in reacting to relatively insignificant events. It is applicable in any sort of media, including journalism, politics, and informal communication.
In Journalism and Media
In journalism and media, a tempest in a teapot refers to the situation where the media or some personalities overemphasize insignificant matters.
For example, a journalist may use an expression referring to “a tempest in a teapot” in order to explain why the media has focused on a celebrity’s trivial mistake.
The phrase is also used in politics to portray exactly what some politicians or commentators make very much out of trifles or merely symbolic issues, typically to avoid dealing with more important matters.
For example, a political analyst may use the idiomatic expression, “tempest in a teapot” to describe a bitter disagreement over a minor policy change with the implication that the two sides may have more personal agendas than policy disputes.
See also: The Great Unwashed
In Politics
In politics the phrase refers to situations where small problems are blown out of proportion, sometimes in an effort to gain political points or divert the public’s attention from more pressing issues.
For instance, a political candidate might claim that their political rivals are making a big fuss over what is really just a minor administrative matter.
The phrase can also be referred to express the fact that people may concentrate on the ‘symbols’ and neglect the ‘substance’.
For instance, a political commentator might use this phrase when a certain group becomes outraged over a specific political figure’s speech; the commenter may continue and say that it is a ‘tempest in a teapot’ since the emphasis is on words and not what should be done.
In Everyday Conversation
As a phrase, “tempest in a teapot” is employed in the literal sense to refer to situation where one gets angry and concerned over an issue that would otherwise be inconsequential. For example, if a group of friends is having a disagreement over the place to have dinner the one in the group might say, This is not a big deal like a tempest in a teapot let it pass.
The phrase is also used in interpersonal relationships to try to tell someone that there is really nothing to be bothered with where in fact there may be grounds for a concern. For example, if a friend gets worried over a small misdeed at the workplace, another will tell them not to worry because it is just a tempest in a teapot and it will pass.
See also: The Usual Suspects
In Popular Culture
The phrase “tempest in a teapot” has also been adopted in the modern language and is commonly used to describe the fashion of society in which it gets easily carried away and engrossed in trivial issues and scandals. While in television shows, movies and books, people can use the phrasal to refer to some circumstances when unimportant things are overestimated and it can be a part of an amusing story.
For example a character in a sitcom might use the term ‘tempest in a teapot’ while discussing a petty office rivalry in an attempt to point out the silliness of the scenario and the fact that so much effort is being expended on something trivial.
Example Sentences of “Tempest in a teapot”
- The media blew the politician’s minor gaffe way out of proportion – it was a real tempest in a teapot situation.
- My parents’ argument over what color to paint the living room was a silly little tempest in a teapot.
- The celebrity feud in gossip magazines was just a tempest in a teapot that both parties manufactured for publicity.
- The bitter disagreement between the two friends over borrowed money turned out to be a small tempest in a teapot.
- The coach told players to stop arguing as it was simply causing a tempest in a teapot disrupting team morale.
- The alleged scandal looked like a tempest in a teapot once the facts came to light proving nothing unethical occurred.
- I wouldn’t worry about upsetting your manager – it seems like a tempest in a teapot based on her mellow personality.
- The media portrayed their policy dispute as a tempest in a teapot between warring factions, when in reality it was a minor issue.
- After listening to both sides, the principal concluded the playground incident was just a small tempest in a teapot.
- Viewed in context, the harsh review criticizing her novel now looked like a tempest in a teapot that she overreacted to.
