Pythagorean cup

noun

A practical joke device in a form of a drinking cup, sometimes used to make statements about greed. When it is filled beyond a certain point, a siphoning effect causes the cup to drain its entire contents through the base.

Similar
greedy cupTantalus cupbeaker of righteousness
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Meanings

nounPythagorean cup (plural Pythagorean cups)

plural Pythagorean cups · alternative Pythagoras cup

  1. A practical joke device in a form of a drinking cup, sometimes used to make statements about greed. When it is filled beyond a certain point, a siphoning effect causes the cup to drain its entire contents through the base.

    Synonyms: greedy cup, Tantalus cup, beaker of righteousness

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA practical joke device in a form of a drinking cup, sometimes used to make statements about greed. When it is filled beyond a certain point, a siphoning effect causes the cup to drain its entire contents through the base.

Similar
greedy cupTantalus cupbeaker of righteousness
Also see
tantalus cup

Origin

Credited to Pythagoras of Samos.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch Tantalusbeker, beker van rechtvaardigheid
  • Tantalusbekerjoke device
  • beker van rechtvaardigheidjoke device
Cite this entry
APA

Pythagorean cup. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pythagorean%20cup

MLA

“Pythagorean cup.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pythagorean%20cup. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Pythagorean cup,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pythagorean%20cup.

Source: Pythagorean cup on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.