# price of tea in China

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/price-of-tea-in-china
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something that is relevant or important, usually used to emphasize that another, compared thing is irrelevant, unimportant, or non sequitur, or that someone unaware of it is ignorant, etc.

## Examples

- That fact has nothing to do with the price of tea in China.
- His excuse for being late matters as much as the price of tea in China.
- I do not care about your favorite color, as it has nothing to do with the price of tea in China.
- Your opinion on the office decor is about as important as the price of tea in China when we are facing a major budget deficit.
- The politician rambled about his childhood, which had absolutely nothing to do with the price of tea in China regarding the current economic crisis.

## Origin

The term finds its origins in England during the 19th century, when the cost of tea in China was a subject of genuine economic and administrative concern. The phrase was frequently recorded in the proceedings of the House of Commons, where the commodity's valuation served as a recurring topic of debate before the expression shifted into its current role as a marker of irrelevance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.