So I am Moving to the UK ... (HALP)

[Adinnieken]

HigHurtenflurst said:

Adinnieken said:

Also, "tea time" doesn't necessarily mean you drink tea, it's also a reference to breakfast, lunch, or dinner with an emphasis on the latter two. So, it could refer to eating as well. Brits may offer you milk with tea, and they typically don't take as much sugar as Americans do.

I have never known anyone to refer to any meal as "tea" other than the late afternoon/evening meal. (though I know it has been used as such historically... I think teatime tended to refer to a light meal like sandwiches, compared to a dinner which is traditionally a large family meal usually in the evening)

Personally I stick to calling the three meals "breakfast, lunch and tea"... I would use "dinner" for an evening meal except it causes confusion as some of my family uses "dinner" to refer to lunchtime. (which would be fine if we all had a large sit-down meal at the same time for lunch, like we sometimes do on a Sunday, but usually lunch will be small and eaten at different times and in different places)

And yeah, I don't drink much tea but I prefer it quite strong with milk, no sugar.

Fair enough.  After talking with Brtis and watching enough British TV, I've learned that "tea" or "tea time" doesn't necessarily mean drinking tea but usually includes eating.  It does sound like it means something different to everyone in Britain. 

Americans tend to dillute the bitterness of tea with sugar, where as Brits use milk.  Most people here would look at you cross-eyed if you offered milk with tea, yet they would drink coffee with it.