as useful as a chocolate teapot
- idiom
- UK
:
tan útil como una tetera de chocolate
- Without the proper tools, the instruction manual was as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Examples
-
When the power went out, my electronic devices were as useful as a chocolate teapot.
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His advice on fixing the car was as useful as a chocolate teapot.
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That plan is as useful as a chocolate teapot.
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His advice was as useful as a chocolate teapot during the project.
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When it comes to solving this problem, his suggestions were as useful as a chocolate teapot.
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In the middle of a storm, my umbrella was as useful as a chocolate teapot.
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That outdated software is as useful as a chocolate teapot for current needs.
Synonyms
550
1.0
Not able to do the job it is made for
1
9.9
Something that has no real purpose or value
Having no real use
Not helpful and not wanted in any situation
Completely without help for any task
Not able to do what is needed
Not useful for everyday tasks
Not useful for practical purposes
Antonyms
How Useful
Surface Forms
Morphology
as + useful + as + a + chocolate + teapot
The simile uses a literal image — a teapot made of chocolate would be impractical (would melt or fail to hold hot liquid) — so the comparison to usefulness is directly inferable from knowing 'chocolate' and 'teapot' and the 'as...as' comparative structure. This is a transparent compositional metaphor that a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily understand.
Etymology
As useful as a chocolate teapot comes from a funny picture: a teapot made of chocolate would melt when you poured hot water, so it could not do its job. That's why the phrase is used to call something 'completely useless'.