Meaning of afternoon tea | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A formal afternoon meal comprising light snacks, accompanied by tea.
   UK, countable, uncountable
2. A small meal or snack eaten between lunch and dinner (supper); a period of time set aside for this purpose, taken as a break from work or from a conference.
   Australia, Hong-Kong, New-Zealand, countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Afternoon tea remains at its present⟳ price of 4s, but the prices of all other main meals have⟳ risen by 1s. Thus a full breakfast now costs 10s, lunch 13s 6d and dinner 14s 6d or 16s 6d according to train⟳.”

“As with luncheon, afternoon tea was often a women's gathering for reasons that take⟳ us back to the reign of Charles II.”

“Everyone should indulge in a formal afternoon tea at least once while in London. This relaxing, drawn-out, civilized affair consists of three courses, all elegantly served on fine china: dainty finger sandwiches (with the crusts cut⟳ off, of course); then fresh-baked scones served with jam and deliciously decadent clotted cream (the rich, thick cream is also known as Devonshire cream); and lastly, an array of bite-size sweets. All the while, an indulgent server keeps the pot of your choice fresh at hand.”

“At all the places listed below, it's perfectly acceptable to order⟳ one afternoon tea and one cream tea (at about £5) and split⟳ the afternoon tea goodies.”

“The British tradition of afternoon tea is still observed on the last⟳ Friday of each month, from January to August, at the hilltop mansion of the governor-general in Nassau.”

“After afternoon tea we all combine⟳ again for a plenary session, followed by the UniForum NZ AGM.”

“In looking at meal structures, Douglas (1972) made a clear distinction between the afternoon tea which is a snack and the high tea which is classified as a light⟳ meal.”

CEFR level