Definition

Noun: * A traditional British occasion, typically in the late afternoon (around 4 p.m.), for drinking tea and eating light snacks such as sandwiches, scones, or cakes. It is a social ritual as much as a meal.

Usage

• Teatime is used to refer to the specific time of day or the event itself.
• It is a fixed compound noun. The activity is "having teatime" or something happens "at teatime."

Examples

• "The hotel serves a proper cream tea every day at teatime."
• "Please be home by teatime; we have guests coming."
• "She always puts the kettle on at teatime."

Advanced Usage

• To interrupt for teatime: This phrase humorously emphasizes the cultural importance of the ritual, suggesting it takes precedence over other activities.
  • Example: "The meeting was going on for hours, but he insisted on breaking for teatime."

Variants and Related Words

• Afternoon tea: Often used synonymously with , but can specifically refer to a more formal, served occasion.
• High tea: A different, more substantial early evening meal, historically for the working class, often including hot dishes.
• Cream tea: A type of afternoon tea focusing on scones served with clotted cream and jam.

Synonyms

• Afternoon tea
• Tea break (though this is often shorter and less formal)

Idioms and Phrases

• Nothing is so urgent it can't wait for teatime: An idiom reflecting the cultural value placed on this daily pause and ritual.
  • Example: "Calm down, the report can wait. Remember, nothing is so urgent it can't wait for teatime."

Noun

1. a light midafternoon meal of tea and sandwiches or cakes
   • an Englishman would interrupt a war to have his afternoon tea