Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that you’re evening meal is called ‘tea’ not ‘dinner’?!

999 replies

Biscoffaddict · 04/02/2021 16:33

I see so many posters on here referring to their evening mea, as ‘dinner’, but in real life I’ve never met anyone who does this and it’s always ‘tea’. It always has been tea. My parents call it tea, my grandparents called it tea, my friends call it tea, my work colleagues call it tea etc. ‘Dinner’ is the meal you have in the middle of the day and that’s why school dinner ladies, are called dinner ladies!

I don’t know but I find it quite irrationally annoying! Surely I’m not alone?!

OP posts:
Megan2018 · 04/02/2021 20:09

I know no-one that has Dinner at lunchtime.

We have Lunch and Supper in the week, main meal at lunchtime, supper is light and about 8.30pm
At weekends we often have a light lunch and a full dinner, with pudding about 7pm.

I am from the South but now in East Mids.

RosieCockle · 04/02/2021 20:09

Sorry if anyone has already said this because I couldn't be bothered to scroll through, but are you seriously telling me you would invite someone out for "tea" and not "dinner"?

CorianderBee · 04/02/2021 20:10

I say both depending on what comes out in the moment.

Born up north, live down south. So, it's both.

CorianderBee · 04/02/2021 20:14

@RosieCockle

Sorry if anyone has already said this because I couldn't be bothered to scroll through, but are you seriously telling me you would invite someone out for "tea" and not "dinner"?
Yes, you go out for tea
HelloCanYouHearMe · 04/02/2021 20:14

Midlander: Breakfast, dinner and tea

HeronLanyon · 04/02/2021 20:15

It’s quite remarkable that we all manage to eat !
My head is spinning.

Also realised I’ve always called it Christmas lunch (no capital L either!). Eaten around 3pm. Gonna have to think that one through.

Really amazed how many eat Christmas Dinner in the early evening. Didn’t know this was so much of a thing.

TonTonMacoute · 04/02/2021 20:15

I was brought up having breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I know that other people say breakfast, dinner and tea.

I know what mean, they say it differently - so what? I doesn't annoy me, why on earth would it 🤷‍♀️

pinkpirlie · 04/02/2021 20:16

@OxfordCat

Oh ffs. Have you never left Wales OP? Hmm Is your only other point of reference Coronation Street? Hmm. If you go to a restaurant do you ask to book a table for "tea"?! Grin
@OxfordCat

I don't mention a specific meal, I just book a table for 6pm or whatever time I want to eat, but invite my friends/family to go out for tea.

But I also call it pudding , not dessert. Which means I am all messed up when it comes to class/regional divides.

Wanderlust20 · 04/02/2021 20:17

We say dinner where I live, tea is quite a working class here! Think it depends where you live.

Wanderlust20 · 04/02/2021 20:18

I think of actually tea/afternoon tea when I hear the word too!

CustardySergeant · 04/02/2021 20:18

@SoulofanAggron

I agree. Dinner is something a dog has. Breakfast, lunch and tea. Smile
Well that's a new one on me. "Dinner is something a dog has"? Confused

No. Millions of people have dinner every single day!

SpilltheTea · 04/02/2021 20:18

I use both when referring to an evening meal. Lunch is just lunch.

Whiskeylover45 · 04/02/2021 20:18

Growing up it was breakfast, lunch and dinner. That was in Sheffield. We moved to Newcastle when I was 9 and here it's breakfast, dinner and tea. I do the later now....

TheSandman · 04/02/2021 20:19

'Tea' in our house in Scotland - "Ya Tea's oot!"

Boofay · 04/02/2021 20:21

From Wales. I call my meals breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tea is a small meal taken mid to late afternoon. It happens before dinner. My kids have a tea time snack when they come home from school and then have dinner later in the evening.

Tarantallegra · 04/02/2021 20:22

My family are northern but I live in the south so I say both dinner and tea for evening meal and dinner and lunch for midday. There's no rhyme or reason to it, whatever comes out comes out. Always annoys DH Grin

Runmybathforme · 04/02/2021 20:23

Dinner is your evening meal. Tea would be around 4ish, a cup of tea and small sandwiches and delicate little cakes.

dragonsmoke · 04/02/2021 20:23

I don't believe for one minute that anyone books a restaurant in the evening and calls it 'going out for tea'. That sounds ridiculous.

Original poster
Biscoffaddict · 04/02/2021 20:23

@GADDay

How do we feel about.....

Elevenses?

My Nana used to have Elevenses, which was a cup of tea and a few HobNobs!
OP posts:
Vulpius · 04/02/2021 20:24

@SueEllenMishke

Why is a Sunday lunch called a roast dinner?

It's Sunday dinner in our house and served as close to 12-1pm as possible.

I grew up with this ritual, and it was Sunday lunch, served at 1PM.

I have lived in the north of England all my life.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner/supper. Tea is a drink.

I have learned when dealing with tradesmen that when they say they will be there a dinner time, they mean lunch time.

Original poster
Biscoffaddict · 04/02/2021 20:25

Or here’s another one. My Dad always used to take his ‘snapping’ to work with him!

OP posts:
CertieCumboyle · 04/02/2021 20:26

'Elevenses' is a no-no.

"Coffee" covers morning coffee (and biscuits, if so desired).

Marinaloves · 04/02/2021 20:26

@dragonsmoke
That made me laugh outloud
No, no they fucking don’t

Tuscadero · 04/02/2021 20:27

I think 'elevenses' is charming. I don't drink coffee so it would be weird to refer to a mid morning break as such.

goldfishblub · 04/02/2021 20:28

Lunch and dinner here is the south. However I refer to it as lunch and tea for the kids as that's what nursery called it when my eldest went there

Swipe left for the next trending thread