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Original poster

What time is 'mid afternoon'?

91 replies

CompletelyFlopped · 02/05/2025 15:46

Told a friend it was fine to pop in today to collect something she needed to borrow. She said she'd be here 'mid afternoon'.

I assumed she meant 2pm to 3pm.

But it's now 3:45.

I need to go out to run a few errands.

What time would you assume was meant by 'mid afternoon'?

(Not asking what I should do or is she a CF or anything! It's fine, we r good mates, I've called her but she's not answering. I'm not too bothered about the solution/what to do etc ... Just wondering if I had misunderstood 'mid afternoon'!)

OP posts:
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uncomfortablydumb60 · 03/05/2025 00:37

3pm

Allmarbleslost · 02/05/2025 22:54

In my mind it's 3pm

Bbq1 · 02/05/2025 22:40

bigknitblanket · 02/05/2025 15:49

3pm

This

Jc2001 · 02/05/2025 22:38

CompletelyFlopped · 02/05/2025 15:55

Thanks all! I'll give her 5mins then before I let her know how annoying she's been to arrive late 😉

If you had things to do then you should have pinned her down to a specific time. Mid afternoon is open to interpretation.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 02/05/2025 22:35

ByLimeAnt · 02/05/2025 20:56

That said, if I sent an email at work at 1700 and told a colleague the next morning, I would say I did it last night

For me, in a work context “last night” would mean after normal working hours had finished and that it had been done at home!

Zanzara · 02/05/2025 22:21

6pm is over the yardarm, as any fule kno. 😄

GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 02/05/2025 22:17

I’d have said 2-3pm but 2-4pm is probably more accurate.

I’d class 5.30-6pm onwards as early evening.

nyancatdays · 02/05/2025 22:12

3pm! 3-4pm at a push. 4pm marks the start of “late afternoon”.

ArminTamzerian · 02/05/2025 22:07

Imbusytodaysorry · 02/05/2025 22:06

Between 2-4pm by 5pm it’s early evening

Only in winter. Right now 5pm.us still afternoon, not evening

Imbusytodaysorry · 02/05/2025 22:06

Between 2-4pm by 5pm it’s early evening

caringcarer · 02/05/2025 21:57

bigknitblanket · 02/05/2025 15:49

3pm

I'd have thought about 3ish too.

JohnTheRevelator · 02/05/2025 21:51

I'd assume 3 pm.

Original poster
CompletelyFlopped · 02/05/2025 21:50

ByLimeAnt · 02/05/2025 20:56

That said, if I sent an email at work at 1700 and told a colleague the next morning, I would say I did it last night

Come now! 5pm is not the night time!! 🤣

OP posts:
Notenoughsweeties · 02/05/2025 21:39

For me it’s around 3 to 3.30, even up to 4.

I know afternoon literally is after 12, but in a practical sense (at work etc) it usually means after lunch. So 2pm seems too early for mid-afternoon.

In my head it makes sense 😂

YouRemindMe0fTheBabe · 02/05/2025 21:34

Blankscreen · 02/05/2025 15:51

2-3 is mid afternoon to me.

Early afternoon is 12-2

3-5 is late afternoon

5pm onwards is evening (early/mid/late)

Correct. 🙂

Dr13Hadley · 02/05/2025 21:29

2-3ish. 4 at a push. Anything after is late afternoon.

L0bstersLass · 02/05/2025 21:20

3-4.

6 is early evening all day long.

TubeScreamer · 02/05/2025 21:16

3-4pm

coxesorangepippin · 02/05/2025 21:04

2-4pm

But I would expect 3pm

Hate vagueness

Hdjdb42 · 02/05/2025 20:58

My first thought was 3pm ish?!

ByLimeAnt · 02/05/2025 20:56

That said, if I sent an email at work at 1700 and told a colleague the next morning, I would say I did it last night

louderthan · 02/05/2025 20:56

2-4, disclaimer I have no kids so don’t need to think about school run etc

ByLimeAnt · 02/05/2025 20:55

It's clearly 3pm

lurchermummy · 02/05/2025 20:53

I’d say 3pm in the grounds that 12 is mid day and 6pm is the beginning of the evening - so half way between that is 3

steff13 · 02/05/2025 20:48

stayathomer · 02/05/2025 15:49

after two but before 4?

Yeah, I think this is what I think.