cocktail party, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “cocktail party, the” mean?
A social gathering at which cocktails and other alcoholic drinks are served, typically held in the early evening and characterized by standing conversations in small groups.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A social gathering at which cocktails and other alcoholic drinks are served, typically held in the early evening and characterized by standing conversations in small groups.
A metaphor for a situation involving numerous simultaneous, fragmented conversations or sources of information, such as in the 'cocktail party effect' in psychology (the ability to focus one's attention on a single conversation in a noisy environment).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept is identical. The phrase 'drinks party' is a more common UK alternative for the same type of event.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes sophistication, networking, and light social interaction. Slightly more formal in UK usage.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “cocktail party, the” in a Sentence
[Subject] hosted a cocktail party.We were invited to [Possessive] cocktail party.The conversation was typical cocktail party banter.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cocktail party, the” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They are cocktail-partying their way through the festival season.
- We spent the evening cocktail-partying with clients.
American English
- She spent the summer cocktail-partying in the Hamptons.
- He hates cocktail-partying but goes for networking.
adjective
British English
- Her cocktail-party manners were impeccable.
- It was just cocktail-party conversation, nothing serious.
American English
- He has a great cocktail-party personality.
- The speech was full of cocktail-party anecdotes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common for describing networking events or client entertainment. (e.g., 'We'll meet potential investors at the cocktail party.')
Academic
Used in psychology/cognitive science for the 'cocktail party effect'. (e.g., 'The study examined auditory attention in a cocktail party scenario.')
Everyday
Describing a common type of social event. (e.g., 'We're going to a cocktail party at the neighbours' on Saturday.')
Technical
Primarily in auditory/signal processing research referring to multi-speaker environments.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cocktail party, the”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cocktail party, the”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cocktail party, the”
- Using 'cocktail' as a countable noun for the event itself (e.g., 'We're going to a cocktail' - incorrect). It must be 'cocktail party'.
- Confusing 'cocktail party' (specific event) with just 'party' (general).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A 'cocktail party' is a specific type of party, usually shorter (1-3 hours), held in the early evening, where guests stand, mingle, and drink cocktails/canapés. A general 'party' can be any social gathering, often longer and with more varied activities.
Attire is typically 'cocktail attire' or 'smart casual'. For men, this often means a suit or blazer with trousers. For women, a cocktail dress or elegant separates. The invitation usually specifies the dress code.
Yes, often hyphenated. E.g., 'cocktail-party conversation' describes light, superficial talk typical of such events.
The term emerged in the early 20th century in the United States, coinciding with the rising popularity of cocktails. It distinguished a modern, drinks-focused social event from more traditional gatherings like teas or dinners.
A social gathering at which cocktails and other alcoholic drinks are served, typically held in the early evening and characterized by standing conversations in small groups.
Cocktail party, the is usually informal to neutral in register.
Cocktail party, the: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒk.teɪl ˌpɑː.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːk.teɪl ˌpɑːr.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cocktail party effect”
- “cocktail party chatter/politeness”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of COCK (rooster) + TAIL + PARTY. Imagine a rooster wearing a tuxedo tail at a fancy party, serving drinks. This links the word to a formal, drink-based social event.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL INTERACTION IS A PERFORMANCE (with roles, scripts, and costumes); INFORMATION OVERLOAD IS A NOISY SOCIAL EVENT.
Practice
Quiz
What does the 'cocktail party effect' refer to?