meat tea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Very LowDialectal/Regional, Dated, Informal
Quick answer
What does “meat tea” mean?
A substantial evening meal, historically among the working classes in parts of Britain, consisting of a cooked dish with meat, accompanied by tea, bread, and other items.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A substantial evening meal, historically among the working classes in parts of Britain, consisting of a cooked dish with meat, accompanied by tea, bread, and other items.
A term for a robust, non-alcoholic evening meal or high tea. It can refer to the practice of serving a main cooked dish at teatime, or to the meal event itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is exclusively British and is archaic or highly regional in contemporary use. It is not used or understood in American English, where 'dinner' or 'supper' would be used for the main evening meal.
Connotations
In the UK, it connotes a working-class, northern, and/or historical context. It can evoke nostalgia or regional identity.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern spoken or written British English, surviving mainly in historical texts, dialect studies, or nostalgic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “meat tea” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/had meat tea.[Subject] served [Recipient] meat tea.We'll eat meat tea at six.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical, sociological, or dialectological studies of British culture and meal patterns.
Everyday
Extremely rare in contemporary everyday use. Would be understood mainly by older generations in specific regions of the UK.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meat tea”
- Using it to refer to a type of tea (the drink) flavoured with meat.
- Using it in a contemporary international context where it will not be understood.
- Confusing it with 'afternoon tea'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different. 'Afternoon tea' is a light meal of tea, sandwiches, and cakes, typically taken around 4 pm. 'Meat tea' is a heavier, cooked evening meal.
It is very rarely used in contemporary English. It survives mainly in historical discussions or in the speech of older generations in specific regions of the UK.
In many contexts, they are synonymous, both referring to a substantial early evening meal. 'High tea' is the more common and widespread term, while 'meat tea' is a more specific regional variant.
It's a compound noun where 'tea' refers to the meal time (like 'breakfast' or 'lunch'), and 'meat' specifies the heartier, savoury nature of the food served at that meal.
A substantial evening meal, historically among the working classes in parts of Britain, consisting of a cooked dish with meat, accompanied by tea, bread, and other items.
Meat tea is usually dialectal/regional, dated, informal in register.
Meat tea: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːt ˌtiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmit ˌti/ (if used, but it is not a native American English term). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “['...and that's your meat tea.'] – a humorous or emphatic way to indicate a final, substantial offering.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'meat' for the solid, hearty food and 'tea' for the drink and the time of day – it's a meal where the tea comes with a main course, not just cakes.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEAL IS DEFINED BY ITS HEARTIEST COMPONENT (meat) AND ITS RITUAL (tea).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'meat tea' most accurately used?