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