Etymology Journal · W
Who peed in your coffee?
Meaning
- Used to ask someone why they are being so grumpy or irritable first thing in the morning. It suggests that their bad mood is irrational and ruining the vibe for everyone else.
Sassy, cheeky
Used in a sentence
- You have been snapping at everyone since you walked in; who peed in your coffee?
- I just said good morning, so who peed in your coffee?
- Dad is grumbling about the news again, so I asked, who peed in your coffee?
The backstory
This is a playful, vulgar variation of older idioms like the flea in the ear. It centers on the common morning ritual of drinking coffee as the anchor for one's temperament.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check