It's something I still cannot handle in The North – the reference to lucnh as dinner.
However, since all of them (even the posh ones) consider themselves to be working class or at the very least one step removed from the pit, then I will allow them "tea".
Low tea – what the landed gentry have at around 4pm after a hard afternoon shooting peasants.
High tea – what working class people who don't have time for sandwiches without their crusts at 4pm would eat after returning from work.
I am a suthener who has moved tup north and i finaly understand this.
Dinner is traditonaly the hot/main meal of the day.
Up north the main meal was eaten at mid day as they spent a hard day doing hard work. Then they would come home to a smaller meal a exactly 5:00 and supper later.
Down south as we did less phisical work we had a light lunch at mid day then dinner in the evening with the family traditionaly later than 5:00
The Flying Ox – Member
I think it depends on where you're eating. At our house:
Lunch is at midday, and is eaten out.
Dinner is at midday, and is eaten at home.
Dinner is in the evening, and is eaten out.
Tea is in the evening, and is eaten at home.
Slight variation, I use these terms depending whether i'm in work or at home…
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Tiffin…
Tiffin is lunch, or any light meal. It originated in British India, and is today found primarily in Indian English.[1] The word originated when Indian custom superseded the British practice of an afternoon dinner, leading to a new word for the afternoon meal
Tea (Cuppa)
Breakfast
2nd breakfast
Early moning snack (cake)
Mid-morining snack (Possibly cake)
Elevenses (To include cake)
Lunch or dinner (Depending on the type of meal)
Desert
Tea & Cake
Early afternoon snack (Cake)
Afternoon tea (possible cake, or scones depending on location and availability)
High tea (Sarnies and cake)
Tea (Definate cake)
Dinner or tea, depending on the type of meal (possible desert)
Early evening snack (Maybe a bun)
Supper (Usually the same as breakfast)
Late evening snack (Bedtime cake)
Midnight snack (Cake if any left)
This leaves time for cake baking in the PM, with the mandatory licking out of the mixing bowl.
Is there ANYTHING better than cake? I suspect not. 😀