The Great Dinner vs Supper Debate

[ashenflowers 5]

I rarely use the term supper, but if I do, I just mean dinner (i.e. the evening/night meal). I've always called lunch 'lunch', or 'brunch', depending on if I've had breakfast or not. lol (I'm surprised no one else has brought up the term 'brunch' yet!)

btw... should the 'What's for Dinner' thread be re-named 'What's for Supper'?

Edited February 20, 2010 by ashenflowers

[TimandJoyce 1]

I grew up with "supper" but I seem to call it dinner more times than I say supper, although, I have said that.

For years in Canada in the city....I called the tea kettle the "kettle"...

My American husband and extended family in the rural areas....called all the pots in the house the "kettle".....

Funny! I grew up calling pots and pans...well, pots and pans!!! The other word was saucepan. Tim calls them .... boilers! Wow did that cause confusion one day. But he sure looked at me funny when I said "stock pot"....

His niece had NO idea when I asked for a tea towel once....

I get quite the kick out of the different names for the same things.....

Edited February 20, 2010 by TimandJoyce

[OBX 51]

I grew up with "supper" but I seem to call it dinner more times than I say supper, although, I have said that.

Same here although I'm not sure why.

Im from Quebec so im used to seeing the french words like dinner for lunch and supper for the last meal of the day, lol.

Well that explains it! I spent my early years in Quebec.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Actually, I grew up in Quebec as well but both of my parents were from Ontario.

[AAD... 4EVER!!! 0]

I have heard, that DINNER is the largest meal of the day, and according to culture is when that largest meal is.

P.S. My Dad says his DINNER is at 5 A.M. or what others call breakfast!!!

[Pauley 2]

I've always considered them interchangeable for the evening meal, though I like the idea of "supper" being the evening meal and "dinner" being the biggest meal, whether that's at noontime or in the evening.

[Darnell 8,479]

Hey - wots for dinner?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I grew up using both here and there.

Just depends I suppose.

The only time that lunch was ever referred to as 'dinner' though was on Sundays. Mostly because we had a big meal in the early afternoon usually.

I personally say lunch for 'dinner' and 'dinner' for what would be supper.

The only exception is when I'm being sarcastic/poking fun at something.

[Darnell 8,479]

In the myriad o places where I've lived (where English was spoken) - 'Sunday Dinner' was understood to mean 'the meal after Sunday morning church' .. I'm easy, carry portable spoon, fork, and plastic lobster bib - ready to eat dinner or supper or tea or tiffin or bruch, anytime.