high tea—(UK) an early evening tea with a full meal (as a substitute for dinner):
- He thought of the high tea to which he sat down … a slice of cold meat, a great deal of bread and butter and plenty of milk in his tea.
low tea—tea with just bread and butter, cookies, or cake:
- Low tea was served in the low part of the afternoon, in aristocratic homes of the wealthy, and featured gourmet tidbits rather than solid meals.