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ploughman's lunch

(British) A light meal of bread, cheese and pickled onions (or cucumbers), etc., especially one served in a pub at lunchtime.

ˈplaʊmənz ˈlʌnt͡ʃDocumented since 1960s1960sBoomerhistorical139 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
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Born ~1960 · no dated citations yet
1960BornToday, 2026
Boomer / counterculture eraSee decade cohort →

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UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(British) A light meal of bread, cheese and pickled onions (or cucumbers), etc., especially one served in a pub at lunchtime.

Origin: Originally devised by a marketing executive of the Dairy Council in a 1960-61 advertising campaign to sell English cheese and beer. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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