Meanings
- archaicslanguncountableVery weak (dilute) tea.
"WELL, I never! Mrs. Morris, why how poor the tea has got all at once! Why, sure enough, it is as bad as husband's tea now!"
1851, Ann Jane, The Mothers' friend, ed. by Ann Jane, page 1692 more examples
Some take their tea so hot that its flavour, if it had any, would be lost upon them, and many take it so weak that it can have no flavour in particular. We have also heard of "husband's tea," which sufficiently explains itself.
1875, Saturday Review: Politics, Literature, Science and Art, page 442As soon as active growth has commenced weak liquid manure may be given; the draining from a cowshed diluted to the colour of "husband's" tea is good, but that should be discontinued when the blooms show colour.
1884, Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener and Home Farmer, page 353Synonyms: water bewitched
Synonyms & antonyms
nounVery weak (dilute) tea.
Origin
From the idea that a selfish housewife might drink all the tea before her husband returns from work, and refill the pot with water.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
husband's tea. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/husband's%20tea
“husband's tea.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/husband's%20tea. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “husband's tea,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/husband's%20tea.
Source: husband's tea on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.