afternoon tea
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.42 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A formal afternoon meal comprising light snacks, accompanied by tea.
British usage; Countable; Uncountable
noun
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.
Australian usage; New Zealand usage; Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "Afternoon tea includes scones, tarts, finger sandwiches, Victorian spongecakes, tea breads, assorted cookies and jams."
- "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."
Usage
- British usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Australian usage
- New Zealand usage