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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate hearing the word SUPPER

519 replies

newnameoldme · 10/05/2017 13:37

Even at my ripe old age I don't know exactly when or what it refers to.

It makes me cringe at the pretentiousness whenever I hear it used. Only slightly less if elderly posh person!

OP posts:
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sarahconnorsbiceps · 10/05/2017 14:22

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Original poster
newnameoldme · 10/05/2017 14:23

oh gawd - picky bits?

makes me visualise a large bowl of something should be eaten with a fork being dug into by multiple people with their fingers. vile

OP posts:
BoudicasBoudoir · 10/05/2017 14:23

Surely it can only be 'pretentious' if someone has adopted that word to impress someone else? I have always called the evening meal (at home) 'supper', ever since I could call it anything. So no, I'm not pretentious.

Can't we all get past the 'despising people for words they use' thing?

EddieHitler · 10/05/2017 14:25

No confusion, supper is just the last meal of the day, whether it's toast or sausage & mash.

Same as breakfast is the first meal of the day, whether it's toast or sausage, egg & bacon.

Addley · 10/05/2017 14:26

As in: "What's for dinner? Shit, I've nothing in."

zzzzz · 10/05/2017 14:26

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Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2017 14:26

Yes when people say 'come round for supper' I wonder if they want me round for a pre bedtime snack about 10pm.
But no they mean dinner. Confused

squoosh · 10/05/2017 14:26

To some people actually use the words 'picky bits' when issuing an invite?!

Addley · 10/05/2017 14:27

^random fridge crap

alteredimages · 10/05/2017 14:27

I don't get the hate. YABU.

Also, Nigel Slater is fantastic. He has given the world baked onions with parmesan and cream and thus has enriched the world forever. He can call his evening meal what he likes.

So OP, what are your criteria for determining the right to call the evening meal supper? And why are we getting all het up about supper referring to an evening meal or a bedtime snack, when tea and dinner are just as ambiguous?

I was brought up saying supper, now sometimes say dinner. I had a phase of saying tea when I was growing up and was scared of looking like a prat in front of my friends who all said tea.

People can call it what they damn well like.

Original poster
newnameoldme · 10/05/2017 14:27

sapphirestrange exactly - if someone was born into a posh family they can be forgiven a little but I don't believe the insistence that it's common usage across the land and it sounds forced

OP posts:
sarahconnorsbiceps · 10/05/2017 14:27

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Cromwell1536 · 10/05/2017 14:27

Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Tea is sandwiches/scones/cakes around 4. If I'm serving young children their last meal of the day before bedtime, I'm serving 'the children's dinner'.

'Kitchen sups' is what posh people invite their friends to in order to distinguish it from a full-on smart dinner party. Sometimes also referred to, if it's the weekend house, as (hilariously) 'country sups'.

'Picky bits'....??? Yeuch. Also 'nibbles'.

And I like Nigel Slater, he's made my cooking a lot better and his recipe books are quite motivating and interesting. He can't be blamed for the producer's desire to use alliteration in the programme title. Would "Delicious/desirable dinners" be any better or worse?

Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2017 14:28

'Brunch' also has me eye rolling. It's a very late breakfast.

SapphireStrange · 10/05/2017 14:28

No confusion, supper is just the last meal of the day, whether it's toast or sausage & mash.

No, sausage and mash is tea or dinner; then if you're still hungry just before bed and have some toast/a crumpet/whatever, that's supper.

SapphireStrange · 10/05/2017 14:29

PS I like Nigel Slater too!

Redpony1 · 10/05/2017 14:29

Supper is a pre-bed snack. Dinner is the evening meal.

Not sure if it's regional, but i'm South West & the day order of food for me is:

Breakfast
Brunch (if i miss breakfast & intend to miss lunch)
Lunch
Afternoon Tea (only on a day out!)
Dinner
Supper (before bed snack, not something i would do daily)

QuietNameChange · 10/05/2017 14:29

This is interesting and to me, as a foreigner, very entertaining.

squoosh · 10/05/2017 14:29

I remember a thread where a poster said she got an invite asking her to come over for 'nibbles and sipsies'.

I'd love to meet the person who could say 'nibbles and sipsies' with a straight face.

Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2017 14:30

Is it regional? I am Worcestershire if that helps.

The word 'supper' is not one I hear very often in these parts.

Original poster
newnameoldme · 10/05/2017 14:31

squoosh Grin i'm always shocked that people can forward plan like that. i don't know what we're having for dinner yet

OP posts:
MetalMidget · 10/05/2017 14:32

I'm from the Midlands, so...

First meal of the day - breakfast

Midday(ish) meal - lunch (dinner to my northern husband)

Evening meal - dinner (tea to my husband)

For me, tea is a lighter meal taken between 3 and 5. Sandwiches, salad, buffet style, etc.

For both of us, supper is a pre-bed snack - toast, cereal, crumpets, etc. Also known as, "Well, you're just being greedy now".

Rubies12345 · 10/05/2017 14:34

OMG 'kitchen sups' and 'nibbles and supsies' Grin

I wish I had some posh friends to invite me to these things

witsender · 10/05/2017 14:34

We have always been a breakfast, lunch and supper house, that's how we grew up.

If going out for a nice meal plus guests or whatever it is dinner, popping out for a pizza just with the kids we go out for supper.

ElinorRigby · 10/05/2017 14:34

So what did Jesus and the Disciples have to eat and when, on the last occasion they sat down together?

(I don't think they were posh.)