tea-party

A family enjoys a tea-party in the garden.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A social gathering: "tea-party" refers to a social event, typically in the afternoon, where tea, cakes, and light refreshments are served, often with a formal or semi-formal atmosphere.
   • A political movement: "tea-party" can also refer to a specific political movement (e.g., the Tea Party movement in the United States), which advocates for limited government and fiscal conservatism, though this usage is distinct from the social gathering meaning.

Usage Examples

• Social gathering:

  • She hosted a charming tea-party for her friends last Saturday. (A small afternoon event with tea and snacks.)
  • The children dressed up for the toy tea-party in the garden. (A playful imitation of a formal tea gathering.)

• Political movement (context depends on capitalization or specific reference):

  • The Tea Party gained significant influence in the 2010 elections. (A political group advocating conservative policies.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a tea-party": to organize or participate in a social tea gathering.

  • We decided to have a tea-party to celebrate the spring flowers. (To hold a casual or formal afternoon tea event.)

• "tea-party politics": referring to the strategies and ideology of the Tea Party political movement.

  • Tea-party politics often focus on reducing national debt and lowering taxes. (The political approach of that movement.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tea (n): the hot drink served at a tea-party.

  • She poured fresh tea for all the guests. (The beverage itself.)

• Tea-time (n): the time of day when tea is traditionally consumed.

  • Tea-time is at four o'clock in the afternoon. (The scheduled period for tea.)

• Party (n): a social gathering of any kind.

  • The birthday party was lively and full of music. (A general social event.)

Synonyms

• Afternoon tea: a formal or light meal served in the late afternoon, often synonymous with a tea-party.

  • They invited us for afternoon tea at the hotel. (A similar social event with tea and finger foods.)

• Tea reception: a more formal tea-party, often held for celebrations or ceremonies.

  • The wedding tea reception was held in the garden. (A structured tea event.)

Related Idioms

• Not my cup of tea: meaning something is not to one's taste or preference.

  • Formal tea-parties are not my cup of tea; I prefer casual gatherings. (I do not enjoy them.)

• Tempest in a teapot: a great deal of fuss about something trivial.

  • The argument over seating at the tea-party was a tempest in a teapot. (An exaggerated reaction to a minor issue.)