AIBU, the MIL iinvites us to dinner but gives us lunch

[Greensmiff]

We are having meat and rolls, my DH's favourite. But it's lunch not dinner, or is it just me?

^^ this is when we need a 'like' button - Scallion

tea is a drink ;)

Dinner is a cooked meal regardless of when it's served.

'Haven't you got anything more important to worry about?'

BINGO! Unless your query is the number one, most important issue in the world, it's not valid here OP.

I don't think the language is the issue is it? It's the serving sandwiches for the evening meal, which is a bit weird if you've invited someone to dinner/supper/tea/any other word that means 'evening meal'. I think the fact that it's your DH's favourite explains it though. She's serving her sons favourite meal.

No such thing as lunch as its breakfast, dinner and tea

DH? Is that you?

The time is key here (and I guess where in the UK you live).
Breakfast
Lunch (meat rolls etc)
Tea (main hot evening meal) apart from Sunday when it's called dinner and we have it at 4pm just to confuse matters.

Completely gone off subject sorry. Is it possible it was a misunderstanding??

Derek I wholeheartedly agree!

I think it depends on the way the invitation was issued

• 2 weeks ago would you and my son likes come over for dinner on the 16th? I would expect a proper meal
• you've been round or been out for the afternoon and she's turned round and said would you like something to eat then I would expect whatever she had in

Also is it literally a roll and a slice of meat on a plate or is it a selection of cold meats, different rolls and pickles etx?

It's not dinner, no. If the meats hot and is served with gravy and roast potatoes then that would be much better but it could still not be described as dinner. Supper at best!

In my house it's breakfast, lunch and dinner, no matter what is served. In my parents house it is breakfast, dinner and tea. In my in-laws house it is breakfast, lunch and supper (they are posh ).

It can get a bit confusing....

Does she always do this then?

If so, it's no surprise by now!

We always have our"main" meal at lunchtime.

I much prefer it, hate cooked in the evening, other than soup or something relatively light.

But I know that when I stay with my dadthat's how it'll be, so I go along with it!

She must mean the midday meal, surely?

The one thing we can all agree on is that no way is the evening meal ever called lunch...

It's breakfast, lunch and dinner. however heavy or light or if it's not or cold that is the order

however being hot doesn't automatically mean it's not a dinner. cold meals of rolls neats and other bits and pieces cab make a very filling lunch or dinner.

if she's making you wait all day fir a ham sarnie and a bag of crisps that's rude. however if there's a nice spread making a substantial meal that just happens to be cold then that's fine.

FFS just turn up, eat the food that has been prepared for you, served to to and possibly washed up afterwards and say thank you.

Any meal which I haven't had to plan and do all the above for is a bonus for me.

Do you like meat and rolls OP?

My MIl often serves dhs favourite meal when we go over, the problem is, it constitutes the only 2 items of food I absolutely hate. I will try any item of food and willingly eat it, except these two things. Mil knows this, so when I know she's serving this meal I eat before I go and smile graciously when she serves my very small plate of food.

Sounds good to me.... I've just had a babybel and mini cheddars for dinner....

Lunch or dinner used interchangeably with Dm. Either way everyone knows that if is middle of the day then it is a light meal.

The main event is tea/dinner which is 6ish and cooked. We like to confuse in our family.

If I was invited to dinner at my PILs I'd be a bit surprised, because such an invitation, to me, would mean a hot, evening meal (after DC bedtime, probably)

If I was invited for lunch on a Sunday, I would expect a hot meal, unless MIL had previously stated it would 'just' be cold meats ,three types of salad, potatoes, garlic bread, and at least two desserts

A lunch invitation on any other day I would expect sandwiches/omelette/soup or similar. Unless otherwise specified.

In our house we bandy evening meal words around with gay abandon-sometimes it'll be tea, sometimes dinner, occasionally supper. It's not unusual for the dc to ask "What's for dinner?" only for me to bellow "tea's ready!" two minutes later.

Are you pissed off because you'll be expected to cook tonight?

My MIL always does roast beef & yorkshire pud when we visit!

If it is 11am then that is a snack. Where are you OP?

Of course it's all your husband's fault for having meat & rolls as his favourite!

Agreed breakfast dinner tea here too!

I was taught that 'dinner' originally meant the main meal of the day, whatever time it was eaten, hence the variation of breakfast/dinner/tea or breakfast/lunch/dinner depending upon which time you are your main (hot, usually) meal. However over time in families and regional variations I think people start to use the term 'dinner' to refer to the meal at that time of day rather than varying its use depending upon which would be the main meal. I guess this is part of English as a living language shaped by its daily use. So therefore I think YAB a bit U because youare each using the term 'dinner' with a slightly different understanding of what it means, and neither of you is exclusively correct.

Dinner is a hot meal, regardless of whether it's served at lunchtime or teatime.

Lunch = hot or cold; tea = hot or cold but dinner = hot.