Idiom idiom
tea leaf
Slang Cockney rhyming slang · East London
Meaning
thief
Examples
“Watch your wallet, there is a tea leaf around here.”
“The shopkeeper chased the tea leaf down the street after seeing him grab a bag of apples.”
“Security guards apprehended the notorious tea leaf just as he attempted to exit the department store with stolen goods.”
Anchors to
Last updated June 7, 2026