dinner-party

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A social gathering: "dinner-party" refers to a formal or semi-formal social event where a group of people are invited to eat dinner together, typically in a private home. The focus is on the meal and conversation among guests.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • They hosted a dinner-party for ten guests last Saturday. (A social event with a meal.)
  • She wore an elegant dress to the dinner-party. (Attire suitable for a formal social dinner event.)
  • The dinner-party included a three-course meal and wine. (The meal served at the social gathering.)

Advanced Usage

• "to give a dinner-party": to organize and host such an event.

  • They gave a dinner-party to celebrate their anniversary. (They hosted a formal dinner event.)

• "a dinner-party guest": a person invited to attend the event.

  • As a dinner-party guest, he brought a bottle of wine. (An attendee of the social meal.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dinner (n): the main meal of the day, often eaten in the evening.

  • We had a lovely dinner at the restaurant. (The evening meal.)

• Party (n): a social gathering for celebration or entertainment.

  • The birthday party was full of music and dancing. (A festive social event.)

• Dinner jacket (n): a formal jacket worn by men at dinner-parties or other formal events.

  • He wore a black dinner jacket to the event. (Formal attire.)

Synonyms

• Supper party: a less formal evening meal gathering (often used in British English).
• Formal dinner: a structured, often more elaborate version of a dinner-party.

Related Idioms

• "the life of the party": a person who is very lively and entertaining at social events, including dinner-parties.

  • She was the life of the dinner-party, telling jokes and stories. (The most entertaining guest.)

• "dinner-party conversation": polite, light, and often superficial talk suitable for such gatherings.

  • They avoided politics in their dinner-party conversation. (Pleasant, non-controversial topics.)