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high tea

(UK, Australia, New Zealand) A late afternoon or early evening meal, typically consisting of a cooked dish with bread and butter and tea.

ˌhʌɪ ˈtiːCurrent93 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
2 definitions
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Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK, Australia, New Zealand) A late afternoon or early evening meal, typically consisting of a cooked dish with bread and butter and tea.

For parents

"high tea" means: A late afternoon or early evening meal, typically consisting of a cooked dish with bread and butter and tea.. There is a drug-related reference, so this is one worth noticing without overreacting. Many teens encounter such vocabulary through music, film and friends without any direct involvement. A neutral, curious conversation about where they heard the term and what they understand by it is far more useful than a confrontation. Watch for repeated context, not a single word.

For ESL learners

"high tea" means: A late afternoon or early evening meal, typically consisting of a cooked dish with bread and butter and tea.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (UK) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(US) Formal afternoon tea.

Heard in the wild
  • “Missoula High Tea, our anniversary lunch, a scrumptious success.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Join our Mother’s Day Hats and High Tea event on Saturday, May 9 from 2–5pm at the Berkeley Rose Garden. We'll have: - live jazz - free charcuterie and desserts - photo booth - activities for all ages Arrive early, this one fills up!”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

"high tea" means: A late afternoon or early evening meal, typically consisting of a cooked dish with bread and butter and tea.. There is a drug-related reference, so this is one worth noticing without overreacting. Many teens encounter such vocabulary through music, film and friends without any direct involvement. A neutral, curious conversation about where they heard the term and what they understand by it is far more useful than a confrontation. Watch for repeated context, not a single word.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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UK

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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.

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