Supper, Dinner, or both?

[TomSeller]

Question to those who live in areas where the word "supper" is common. When you go to a restaurant in the evening, do they hand out a "supper menu", or a "dinner menu"?

 

[smstonypoint]

Dictionary:
Dinner: the chief meal of the day, eaten at evening or midday
Supper: a light evening meal when dinner is taken at midday

From the Oxford English Dictionary -- The definitive record of the English language

dinner

The chief meal of the day, eaten originally, and still by the majority of people, about the middle of the day (cf. German Mittagsessen), but now, by the professional and fashionable classes, usually in the evening; particularly, a formally arranged meal of various courses; a repast given publicly in honour of some one, or to celebrate some event.

supper

The last meal of the day; (contextually) the time at which this is eaten, supper time. Also: the food eaten at such a meal. Often without article, demonstrative, possessive, or other modifier.The time and style of 'supper' varies according to history, geography, and social factors. For much of its history, 'supper' was simply the last of three daily meals (breakfast, dinner, and supper), whether constituting the main meal or not. In the United States, 'supper' is now a less frequent synonym for 'dinner' as the evening meal. Where both 'supper' 'dinner' can be applied to the last of three meals, supper is often a lighter or less formal affair than dinner Where four meals a day are recognized, 'supper' is a light late meal or snack following an early evening dinner or a late afternoon or early evening 'tea.'

lunch

A synonym of luncheon (Now the usual word exc. in specially formal use, though formerly objected to as vulgar.) Also, a light meal at any time of the day.

luncheon

Originally, a slight repast taken between two of the ordinary meal-times, esp. between breakfast and mid-day dinner. The word retains this original application with those who use dinner as the name of the mid-day meal; with those who 'dine' in the evening, luncheon denotes a meal (understood to be less substantial and less ceremonious than dinner) taken usually in the early afternoon. Now somewhat formal.

Steve

 

[Farmerjonathan]

Lunch is what my wife and I have when I come in out of the field or she brings me a meal to the field near noon time. Dinner is what we have after church on Sunday near noon or when family and or guests come at or around noon. Supper, last meal of the day and generally requires us to turn on a light as it is dark outside. Oh, by the way, breakfast is what we eat when we get up in the morning. Brunch is something we eat after we got up and realized the calves or hogs or horses were out so we run out and get them back in their pens and fix fence and do chores and come in to catch our breath and eat a bite.

 

[TomSeller]

Does anyone eat a small meal between regular meals and describe it to "Tide you over"?

 

[smstonypoint]

Question to those who live in areas where the word "supper" is common. When you go to a restaurant in the evening, do they hand out a "supper menu", or a "dinner menu"?

Well, the restaurants I can afford to frequent have only one printed menu.

Some list breakfast, "lunch only," and do not specify either dinner or supper.

Some list breakfast and do not distinguish between lunch, dinner, and supper.

For those that do not serve breakfast, some specify "lunch only" and do not specify either dinner or supper.

Steve

 

[TomSeller]

Well, the restaurants I can afford to frequent have only one printed menu.

Only one menu? My wife is very indecisive, she would tie the place up for a long time before she passes the menu to the next person or table.

 

[smstonypoint]

Only one menu? My wife is very indecisive, she would tie the place up for a long time before she passes it to the next person or table.

:laughing:

They do have multiple copies of their menus.

Steve

 

[ray66v]

As mentioned, most restaurants, (at least around here), (places like Big Boy and Bob Evans excluded), have a lunch service first, with specific lunch menus, followed by a dinner service, with dinner menus. Dinner service starts usually between 4 & 5 PM.

I can't say that someone hasn't done it, but I have never seen a supper menu.

I have a friend who always gets confused when I ask about meeting him for dinner, because he too believes that means lunch. :confused3:

At least everyone knows when breakfast is. :thumbsup:

 

[RobertN]

Yep. Get something to tide you over till lunch, or dinner.

Does anyone eat a small meal between regular meals and describe it to "Tide you over"?

 

[rekees4300]

"dinner" is a mid day meal...supper is an evening meal...

Ditto