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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:
ouch321 · 02/05/2025 15:59

Basic Maths will tell you that given that there are 6 hours in the afternoon - 12.00 until 18.00 at which point 18.01 starts the evening - then the following are:

12-2 early afternoon
2-4 - mid afternoon
4-6 late afternoon

So she has another 15 mins until she is outside the mid afternoon time frame, as at your post at 15.45.

ReignOfError · 02/05/2025 15:58

2.30 - 4ish. All times -ish: lunchtime 12 - 1.30; early afternoon 1 - 3; late afternoon: 4 - 5.30, maybe 6. Early evening is before 8pm.

Original poster
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 😉

OP posts:
moofolk · 02/05/2025 15:53

3pm

Notknots · 02/05/2025 15:52

At first thought I'd say 3-4ish.
Thinking more about it, early afternoon would be 1-2, maybe then mid would be 2.30-3.30ish? Or till 4ish, late afternoon 5-6ish.

It's tricky!

Pandimoanymum · 02/05/2025 15:51

2pm-ish to 3pm-ish.
I hate when people give vague times like this then don't even stick to them.

CanOfMangoTango · 02/05/2025 15:51

stayathomer · 02/05/2025 15:49

after two but before 4?

This

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)

Sunnyglowdays · 02/05/2025 15:50

Anytime up to 4.30. Unless you’re my PIL in which case around 7.

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

Original poster
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!)

OP posts:
bigknitblanket · 02/05/2025 15:49

3pm

CalypsoCuthbertson · 02/05/2025 15:49

I’d guess 3-4pm … 2pm is just after lunch so early afternoon, and 5pm is early tea/dinner time

stayathomer · 02/05/2025 15:49

after two but before 4?

Snorlaxo · 02/05/2025 15:48

2-4pm.
If she’s got a school run to do then I’d assume just after she did that.

Badgersandfoxes · 02/05/2025 15:47

I’d have said 3-4.

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