Bringing food to another person's house
Informal Depends on context
What it really means
Bringing wine, chocolates or a dessert to a dinner is welcome. But bringing your own cooked dishes to someone's dinner party — normal and generous in some cultures — can accidentally suggest their food isn't enough. Ask first: "Can I bring anything?" The host will say what they'd like, often "just yourselves!"
Chinese explanation
带葡萄酒、巧克力或甜点去赴宴很受欢迎。但把自己做好的菜带去别人的晚宴——在一些文化里是慷慨的表现——在英国可能无意中暗示对方准备的食物不够。先问一句："需要我带点什么吗？"主人会告诉你，答案常常是"人来就行！"
Example conversation
A: Can I bring anything on Saturday? I could cook some dumplings.
B: Ooh, actually homemade dumplings would go down brilliantly — yes please!
A：周六我要带点什么吗？我可以包点饺子。
B：哇，自己包的饺子肯定大受欢迎——太好了，带来吧！
What you could say back
Related phrases
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake