Looking up...
abwarten und Tee trinken
/apˈvaʁtn̩ ʊnt ˈteː ˈtʁɪŋkn̩/◆idiom
to wait calmly and patiently
In solchen Situationen hilft nur abwarten und Tee trinken.
In such situations, the only thing to do is wait calmly and have a cup of tea.
informal
To remain calm and patient while waiting for a situation to resolve itself, often implying a relaxed or philosophical attitude toward uncertainty.
Die Entscheidung liegt nicht in unserer Hand, also abwarten und Tee trinken.
The decision isn't in our hands, so we'll just have to wait and see.
Bei politischen Krisen bleibt uns oft nichts anderes übrig, als abwarten und Tee trinken.
During political crises, we often have no choice but to wait and see how things unfold.
This idiom is often used humorously or ironically to suggest that no active intervention is possible or necessary.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Context
This idiom reflects a cultural tendency in German-speaking countries to value patience and calmness in the face of uncertainty.
Gold Rule
Usage
This phrase is often used in informal or humorous contexts, not in formal or professional settings.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the verbs 'abwarten' (to wait) and 'Tee trinken' (to drink tea), creating a calming, almost meditative image of patience and relaxation. The phrase likely originated in the 20th century as a humorous or ironic way to describe situations where no immediate action is possible.
Usage Notes
This idiom is often used in situations where the outcome is uncertain, and the speaker is advising patience or acceptance. It can also be used sarcastically to criticize inaction.
Word Breakdown
abwarten
to wait
verbund
and
conjunctionTee
tea
nountrinken
to drink
verbDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch