I could do with a cup of tea

[thedaffodils]

In a British movie titled Sightseer, the mother told her daughter, "I could do with a cup of tea".

Is it "do with something" more polite than just saying I would like to have a cup of tea?

Thank you!

 

[Route21]

"I could (do with/murder) a cup of tea." would be a potential answer to "Is there anything I could get you?"
Both would mean "I would really like a cup of tea [i.e. I'm very thirsty]".
It's not so much polite as emphatic.
See: could - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
- particularly "could do with" and "could murder".

Regards
R21

PS: I notice they're not included in the UE list of idioms.
Maybe they could do with being included? But that's a polite request, rather than an emphatic one!

 

[Tdol]

It was added to phrasal verbs- there's often a fine line: Could do with - English Phrasal Verb - UsingEnglish.com

 

[BobK]

:up:

In a British movie titled Sightseer, the mother told her daughter, "I could do with a cup of tea".

Is it "do with something" more polite than just saying I would like to have a cup of tea?

Thank you!

So it's not more polite; and if your host hasn't mentioned it it might be felt to be impolite. But it's informal enough for users and hearers to understand that the emphasis trumps the need for politeness.

:hi:

b