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To read the tea leaves

Definition

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When someone talks about “reading the tea leaves,” they are referring to the practice of predicting the future or interpreting events based on subtle signs or clues. This idiom originates from the ancient practice of tasseography, where tea leaves are used to make predictions about a person’s life or future. In tasseography, a cup of tea is prepared, and the drinker consumes the tea, leaving behind some loose tea leaves at the bottom of the cup. The patterns and positions of these leaves are then interpreted by a reader to gain insights into the person’s life, relationships, or upcoming events.

Metaphorically, “reading the tea leaves” has come to mean interpreting small details or hints to make predictions or understand a situation better. It’s about paying attention to subtle cues or signs that may provide guidance about what is to come. This idiom is often used in a figurative sense to describe the act of analyzing circumstances or behaviors to anticipate outcomes or make informed decisions. It implies looking for hidden meanings or insights in seemingly insignificant information.

Example sentences

When analyzing the company’s financial reports, the CEO had to read the tea leaves to predict future market trends.

The detective had to read the tea leaves of the crime scene to piece together what had happened.

The political analyst tried to read the tea leaves of the recent election results to forecast the political landscape.

The teacher had to read the tea leaves of the students’ expressions to see if they understood the complex lesson.

During negotiations, the diplomat carefully read the tea leaves of the opposing party’s statements to assess their true intentions.

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To read the tea leaves

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