Tea (the evening meal)
TEE /tiː/
Informal Neutral
What it really means
In much of northern England, "tea" means the evening meal, not the drink. "What's for tea?" = what's for dinner? Context makes the meaning clear, but it confuses many newcomers.
Chinese explanation
在英格兰北部很多地区，tea 指晚饭而不是茶。What's for tea? 意思是"晚饭吃什么？"。虽然语境能分清，但很多新来的人会被搞糊涂。
Example conversation
A: What's for tea tonight?
B: I'm making a curry, if you fancy staying.
A：今天晚饭吃什么？
B：我打算做咖喱，你想留下一起吃也行。
All British Slang
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake