A Conversation for Talking Point - Lunch

Lunch/Dinner

Post 1

Abs

Where I come from Lunch is called Dinner, and Dinner is known as Tea. At school, 'Lunch Time' was a break we had at 10:30, at 12:00 we had Dinner and then at night we had Tea.

Does anyone else use Breakfast, Dinner and Tea as the labels for their mealtimes?


Lunch/Dinner

Post 2

Teasswill

Yes, it may be considered correct to use lunch for midday meal & dinner for the evening meal but we tend to say breakfast, dinner & tea (or supper if it's late!)regardless of how substantial the meal is. The exception is if we are having a special evening meal & then it's a light lunch at midday!
Probably it's because the children had their main meal midday.
Actually this just made me curious enough to check in my Chambers dictionary where dinner = 'the chief meal of the day', lunch = 'a slight repast between breakfast & midday meal: midday meal: snack at any time of day'.
So take your pick!


Lunch/Dinner

Post 3

Huw B

In my experience Dinner is in use as a common (or the primary) word for the midday meal in Wales and Northern England. I have never met anyone in South-East England (where I currently live) who even recognises the use of Dinner this way.
Maybe it was originally a class thing based on when you had your largest meal? A physically demanding job might require more 'fuel' earlier in the day?

I use lunch to humour my work colleagues but I only eat dinner - hence I can truly say I have NEVER eaten lunch in my life.


Lunch/Dinner

Post 4

Abs

Well, all I can say is "Hooray!" I would much rather have dinner than lunch anytime!


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