tea leaf

British  

noun

1. the dried leaf of the tea shrub, used to make tea

2. (usually plural) shredded parts of these leaves, esp after infusion

3. slang a thief

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Etymology

Origin of tea leaf

sense 3 rhyming slang

Example Sentences

The truck carrying the tea leaves had no roof, and police are investigating the accident, reports said.

From Barron's

The recent government shutdown complicated the efforts of economists to decipher where the economy is heading, depriving them of some government-collected data they need to read the tea leaves.

From The Wall Street Journal

Trying to determine the state of the labor market without the official jobs report in recent months has been like reading tea leaves.

From Barron's

A simple demonstration of this effect involves placing crushed tea leaves on water.

From Science Daily

After 35 years in Tbilisi, Megreladze had returned to Guria, where along with plucking tea leaves she also makes wine and hosts the odd guest.

From The Wall Street Journal