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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:
pavillion1 · 02/05/2025 20:46

3pm

ArminTamzerian · 02/05/2025 20:45

CompletelyFlopped · 02/05/2025 15:50

Perfect! Thank you!!

(Do u think it's season dependent? Would it be earlier in winter!? Just clutching at straws to justify my false belief that it should be 2 - 3!)

Yes.. definitely it's different seasonally

Anonymouseposter · 02/05/2025 20:42

I would have said around 3pm. By 4.15 I would say that mid afternoon has definitely passed.

overitalmost · 02/05/2025 20:38

3 pm

Cheepcheepcheep · 02/05/2025 20:36

CompletelyFlopped · 02/05/2025 18:53

Thanks everyone!

So I guess everyone has a different view! I still think 2-3 ! But I accept 2-4!!

(Crazy friend arrived 6!! That is NOT mid afternoon! 😉😁😵‍💫)

6pm on a weekday is acceptable wine time and therefore in no way mid afternoon <gavel>

PepGuacamole · 02/05/2025 20:23

CompletelyFlopped · 02/05/2025 18:53

Thanks everyone!

So I guess everyone has a different view! I still think 2-3 ! But I accept 2-4!!

(Crazy friend arrived 6!! That is NOT mid afternoon! 😉😁😵‍💫)

It's mid afternoon somewhere!

CarpetKnees · 02/05/2025 20:22

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/05/2025 20:15

In what world is 5 pm evening? 😂

Show quote history

My world.

AtomicBlondeRose · 02/05/2025 20:22

5-6 is teatime, obviously.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 02/05/2025 20:21

6 is definitely not mid afternoon in the UK IMO. Evening starts at between 6 and 7 for me, depending on if it’s winter or summer. Probably nearer 7, as if you had an early dinner out it’d be at 7ish. So noon until 2ish is early afternoon, 2ish until 4ish is mid afternoon, and 4is to 6ish is late afternoon. 6ish to 7ish is early evening. 7ish until 10ish is evening. After 10 is night!

Gundogday · 02/05/2025 20:20

5pm definitely early evening. I quite often have an (early) evening meal at 5pm.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/05/2025 20:15

LMBWSS · 02/05/2025 19:25

5-6pm isn’t late afternoon. That’s early evening 😂

I’d think the same as you OP - 2-3pm is mid afternoon. 4pm is late afternoon.

Show quote history

In what world is 5 pm evening? 😂

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/05/2025 20:14

My first thought was 4 ish, but anywhere 3-4.

2 would be tail end of lunchtime/ early afternoon in my book.

rainbowsparkle28 · 02/05/2025 20:13

Similar to you would have thought 2/3pm. 4pm ish onwards would consider late afternoon / early evening.

CalypsoCuthbertson · 02/05/2025 20:08

😮 not afternoon at all!

Ineffable23 · 02/05/2025 19:58

6pm is definitely not mid afternoon. That would fit just about into the "late afternoon" category and more generally into "early evening".

LMBWSS · 02/05/2025 19:25

skinnyoptionsonly · 02/05/2025 15:50

Early afternoon - 12.30 to 2ish
mid - 2 ish to 4 ish
late - 4-5.30/6 ish

id have asked her to be more specific initially

5-6pm isn’t late afternoon. That’s early evening 😂

I’d think the same as you OP - 2-3pm is mid afternoon. 4pm is late afternoon.

Scampuss · 02/05/2025 19:09

12-2 early afternoon
2-3 mid afternoon (+/- 30 minutes either way to be on safe side)
3-5 late afternoon

Then at 5 it becomes evening.

Pfpppl · 02/05/2025 19:02

QueensCafe · 02/05/2025 16:03

First thought was 4pm before reading any comments. Now I'm reading comments I'm overthinking it and no longer sure. So I'm gonna say 4pm.

This. I'm amazed at people saying 2pm - that's "after lunch" to me!

Original poster
CompletelyFlopped · 02/05/2025 18:53

Thanks everyone!

So I guess everyone has a different view! I still think 2-3 ! But I accept 2-4!!

(Crazy friend arrived 6!! That is NOT mid afternoon! 😉😁😵‍💫)

OP posts:
Original poster
CompletelyFlopped · 02/05/2025 18:50

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 02/05/2025 16:24

2 - 3pm x

That's what I thought! 😉

OP posts:
Rosie8880 · 02/05/2025 18:43

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'!)

3-5pm

user2848502016 · 02/05/2025 17:34

2-3.30 ish

ManchesterGirl2 · 02/05/2025 17:11

3pm, definitely :D

Shessweetbutapsycho · 02/05/2025 17:09

2-3

Viviennemary · 02/05/2025 17:09

About 3 until 4.

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