Whenever we are in a group or meeting our best friends after a long time, we have a lot of information to share. Furthermore, whenever two friends come together, gossip is inevitable. We tend to talk about everything going on around us and with us. This helps us feel a close relationship with the people around us. Don’t we all share gossip with our work colleagues all the time? This is called spilling the tea.
“Spilling the tea” is a slang phrase that means to gossip or share juicy, often scandalous, information. It’s used to describe the act of revealing secrets or discussing something sensational about someone or something. The phrase is commonly used in a casual, informal context, particularly on social media and among younger people.
Sharing information that is interesting or potentially controversial is the exact definition of this term. It is often used to express that some sort of gossip is about to unravel. We are all up-to-date with recent news and information only because someone around doesn’t forget to spill the tea with us.
Origin –
This term originated from the African American and Latino Drag culture, particularly in the ballroom scene between the 1980s and 1990s. But, when social media became available to everyone, it became more prevalent on the internet. People started using it in conversations and on online forums between the 2000s and 2010s. If someone is sharing some interesting details or information, then this term has become mainstream slang that is used in these situations.
Examples –
“You went to the party last night, right? Are you spilling the tea, cuz I’m excited to listen to what happened last night!” Here a friend is excited about the party that she was not able to attend and wants to know all the details of what might have happened that night.
“I’m spilling the tea from my trip last week, come join us.” In this case, a friend is sharing gossip about the trip that she enjoyed a week ago.
“Let’s get some popcorn. She’s about to spill some tea.” Don’t we all like some gossip on girl’s night?
“She’s always spilling the tea about her coworkers.” We all have that coworker who always has the freshest gossip to offer!
Some other social media terms –