# Dinner vs. Supper **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 28, 2000, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-vs-supper/43095 "2000-11-28T22:35:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-vs-supper/43095/41 "2000-11-30T19:49:00Z")
Well, in suburban Chicago. An area where my perents grew up in where it was decidedly rural, but has been swallowed up by urban sprawl in the last 20 years this is definately a factor. Considering the mix it seems to have hybridized the two. There are 3 meals in a typical day. Breakfast-Lunch-Supper. Its typically understood however that _Dinner_ is any less casual meal, typically out at a restaruant, or for a holiday. 90% of the time this is in the evening, but in the rare cases where a large meal is served midday its usually dinner as well. I think this is closest to the modern and dictionary definition as one can get using both terms without conflict. ---
**Author:** ![Nymysys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Nymysys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nymysys)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-vs-supper/43095/42 "2000-11-30T20:05:59Z")
Ooooooh…Omni has a point. If I’m eating at home it’s supper. But it’s “going out to dinner” or “having everyone over for Christmas dinner.” Way to go, Omni! You just clarified something for me! ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-vs-supper/43095/43 "2000-11-30T20:06:44Z")
I get the feeling Wood had no idea what they were eating either, except for the coffee. (What are the geographical borders of the area where coffee cups are put out at the start of EVERY meal?) Anyway, I do wish he had let that poor woman with the mashed potatoes have some oven mitts on her hands. Farm women are tough, but really. Love the farmer tans, though. Let’s see, my Indiana farm wife grandmother would be serving fried pork in at least one form, with red-eye gravy or milk gravy, vegetables cooked to death with more pork, two or three types of pickles, cornbread, and potatoes in one of about two forms (mashed or fried, or mashed and then fried). Coffee or iced tea for the grownups, milk or Kool-aid for the kids. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-vs-supper/43095/44 "2000-11-30T21:16:43Z")
**Ukelele Ike** wrote: > [@](#): > > Of course, now that I see it, I realize that we have no IDEA …what time of day it is The shadows under the chickens confirm that it is high noon. (Who needs a watch when you have poultry?) So you’re right **Uke**. It does seem to be an urban/rural divide. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-vs-supper/43095/45 "2000-11-30T21:30:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cher3 \* > **(What are the geographical borders of the area where coffee cups are put out at the start of EVERY meal?)** That’s worthy of being a GQ post. I’d place the boundaries as, uh…Pennsylvania on the east, Nevada on the west, Texas on the south, and Minnesota to the north. (long, low whistle at **spoke-** ) Pretty damn cool! You’re the chicken Sherlock Holmes of the SDMB, and don’t let anyone tell you different. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-vs-supper/43095/46 "2000-11-30T22:25:55Z")
I shall wear the title with all the pride and dignity it confers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-vs-supper/43095.md?page=2)