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Find out how to give someone a compliment with this trendy phrase.
If you've been browsing social media lately, you’ve likely come across the term “body tea.” It’s often used as a compliment, but you might still be wondering what exactly it means. No need to fret! We’ve got you covered. “Body tea” is simply a playful way to describe someone with a toned, attractive body. Whether you want to flirt with someone or uplift a friend, this article will explain what “body tea” means, how to use it, where it comes from, and introduce you to other slang expressions used to give compliments.
Understanding the Meaning of “Body Tea” in Gen Z Culture
The term “Body Tea” is a piece of Gen Z slang used to describe an attractive body. It’s commonly used as a compliment, especially toward women, or to hype up a friend. You might hear phrases like, “her body tea,” “body is tea,” or “you got body tea.”
How to Use the Term
What does the slang term body tea actually mean?
“Body tea” is a compliment used in Gen Z slang to refer to a fit or attractive body. This term is commonly used on social media to describe someone with a hot physique. Variations include “her body tea,” “body is tea,” and “you got body tea.” All these expressions essentially convey the same idea.
- Some people now use “body tea” to describe images or videos where their body looks especially good.
- There are also detox drinks called body tea, but they aren’t related to the slang meaning.
How to Use "Body Tea" in Conversation
Use “body tea” to give someone a compliment and make an impression. Compliments are a great way to flirt and show interest in someone. They can even stimulate the same part of the brain as receiving a cash reward! Plus, they just make people feel good. Here are a few examples of how to use “body tea” as a compliment for someone you like.
- “Your body is so tea the British are coming.”
- “Your body is so tea that when you take a bath, the water turns into Lipton.”
- “Day-um! That body is so tea I need to take a sip!”
Use it to boost your friend's confidence and make them feel amazing. If your friend is feeling down or unsure about their looks, compliment them with “body tea” to lift their spirits. Whether they're looking incredible in an outfit or just need a confidence boost, tell them how great they look.
- “Girl, I can’t lie. Your body is tea in that dress.”
- “Don’t worry about how you look. You got face card and body tea.”
- “You think you don’t look good in those pants? That body is so tea, Americans threw you into Boston Harbor in 1773.”
Share a post about your “body tea” on social media. A fun way to use this slang is by posting a thirst trap photo or video on your feed. Add a caption or hashtag referencing “body tea” to show off your amazing physique and let everyone know you’re feeling yourself. Here are a few caption ideas:
- “My body tea and my face card NEVER declines.”
- “In my feelings, but I have money, and my body is tea.”
- “At least my body is tea.”
What is the origin of body tea?
TikTok user @queenoppss introduced the term in July 2023. In a livestream clip, she used it to compliment a friend: “She get money. Her body tea. She’s super thicc. She’s super pretty.” You can watch the original post here.
- The video quickly gained popularity, attracting over 750,000 views within 8 months.
- “Body tea” spread across other platforms like X, Reddit, and Instagram, often accompanied by pictures of users and celebrities celebrating their hot bodies.
- Artist Big JAY dropped a song titled “Body Tea” featuring Cartier, inspired by the viral slang.
By early 2024, the term was so popular it inspired parodies. In March 2024, X user @MatthewKBegbie shared a post featuring Mrs. Potts from *Beauty and the Beast*, captioned, “her body is tea.” The post quickly garnered over 7,500 likes in just five days. In 2024, more parody posts began to circulate.
- A TikTok in September 2024 by @kccarde featured an overweight man dancing, captioned “when yo body tea😘,” which received more than 128,000 likes in under three months.
- In November 2024, TikTokker @.messymari posted a video of a woman in a creepy doll costume with the caption, “she ate with her 2 scoops of hair at least Her body tea.”
Some believe “body tea” originated from “spill the tea.” The popular phrase “spill the tea,” meaning to gossip or reveal juicy information, is rooted in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and was likely influenced by drag culture before becoming mainstream through shows like *RuPaul's Drag Race* and on social media.
- The 1994 book *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* includes drag queen Lady Chablis using the term “T” to refer to her truth.
- The connection between “spill the tea” and “body tea” remains unclear, and they may not be directly related.
Body Tea Meme
@queenoppss's original post evolved into a popular lip dub meme. A lip dub traditionally refers to a DIY music video where the creator lip-syncs to a popular song, which they would post on YouTube. Some lip dubs featured cartoon characters dubbed with pop songs or other audio. When the trend moved to TikTok, users began creating memes by pairing clips of audio from other TikTok videos, which is what happened with @queenoppss’s original post.
- As early as July 2023, TikTok user @ldr1437 shared a video of a kitten paired with the original voiceover from @queenoppss’s clip.
- The first viral lip dub video featured office workers lip-syncing to Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta.”
Other Popular Slang Compliments
Serving The term “serving” is used to describe when someone looks amazing, performs exceptionally, or shows off impressive skills. It's often a compliment that praises someone's overall vibe or a specific outfit. Use “serving” when you want to celebrate how well someone is doing or how stylish they look.
- For example, “The way you walked down that aisle in your prom dress…you were serving.”
- If you’re admiring a friend’s makeup or face, you could say, “You’re serving face!”
Ate and Left No Crumbs The phrase “ate” is used to describe someone who did something incredibly well. When you say “You ate and left no crumbs”, you're giving the highest level of praise. It means they did such a great job that they left nothing for anyone else—every bit of talent or skill was theirs alone.
- For example, “That outfit has me speechless. You really ate and left no crumbs tonight.”
- “I’ve never seen anyone play Juliet so perfectly. You ate that stage and left no crumbs.”
Slay This slang term signifies when someone has performed exceptionally well. If you’ve “slayed” something, it means you “nailed it” or did an outstanding job. It’s a term full of positive energy, expressing admiration and encouragement. To up the ante, you can say “slay the house down boots.”
- For instance, text, “You slayed your solo! 🤩” to hype up a friend after a fantastic performance in choir practice.
- Comment “SLAYYY” on a friend's Instagram post to show them you think their outfit is absolutely on point.
Understood the assignment When you say someone “understood the assignment,” it means they’ve done something perfectly, like dressing to impress or delivering a perfect response. This phrase became famous thanks to rapper Tay Money’s hit song “The Assignment.”
- For example, “You really understood the assignment with that outfit for the show.”
- “I’ve never seen your hair look so good. Your stylist definitely understood the assignment.”
