# What is the British meaning of "tea and a slice"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [October 10, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349 "2012-10-10T19:49:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/21 "2012-10-12T08:37:22Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > In a British sandwich, unlike an American one, the bread is always buttered (margarine will do as a substitute). That is where “buttie” comes from, I think. “Buttie” is not really part of my dialect, though. It is mostly a North of England and Scottish thing. Buttie is definitely Scots. I asked mum about the “fried slice” and she said it was always called fried bread in Glasgow and apparerntly I loved it as a kid. South of the lowlands may differ. **terentii** ; spot on, both times. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/22 "2012-10-12T10:45:30Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > Buttie is definitely Scots. I asked mum about the “fried slice” and she said it was always called fried bread in Glasgow and apparerntly I loved it as a kid. South of the lowlands may differ. > > **terentii** ; spot on, both times. Buttie a very common word back home in Birmingham. I’d say ‘chip buttie’ is pretty universal across the nation. And a thing of beauty it is. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/23 "2012-10-12T13:14:06Z")
I am from the south of England (Essex), and live there now. I don’t think I have ever heard the word “buttie” used IRL, just on TV and the radio. Yes, I am sure mot people round here would understand it, but they would not habitually use the word. I have never actually seen a chip buttie, or heard of anyone I know eating one, or seen one (or any other “buttie”) advertised on a menu. I associate the word “buttie” with Scotland (perhaps especially Glasgow), Liverpool, and maybe Newcastle - the urban North - but not even all of the urban North: I lived in Leeds for many years, and never ran across it in the wild there either. I am familiar with what people are calling a “fried slice”, but not under that name. My mother would make that for me, to go with bacon, but just called it “fried bread”. The _Pink Floyd_ are middle class southern boys, like me, and not far off my age, so we probably speak pretty much the same dialect. I agree that the “slice” they are referring to is simply a slice of buttered bread, or just possibly a slice of cake. I only say the latter because am not sure there would have been many places, even back in 1973, where you could actually buy just a slice of bread, and no more, with your tea, whereas certainly there would have been, and still are, many where you could buy tea and cake. However, if you could get it, bread would obviously be cheaper, and the song is clearly trying to suggest a minimal cost. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/24 "2012-10-12T14:33:24Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Never been to a tea house, then? > > [(Yes, it’s cake.)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtbv9zRVt_A) What the hell was that? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/25 "2012-10-12T15:28:18Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > What the hell was that? It’s a walking talking scarecrow who likes tea and cake, duh ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/26 "2012-10-12T16:42:02Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > It’s a walking talking scarecrow who likes tea and cake, duh It’s a walking talking scarecrow _with interchangeable heads_ who likes tea and cake. It’s also Jon Pertwee’s second greatest role. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/27 "2012-10-12T16:58:57Z")
Somewhat ironically, I think on a per-calorie basis, cake might be cheaper than bread these days. A better choice for someone actually starving. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/28 "2012-10-12T17:06:30Z")
I just find it amusing, that, out of the Floyd entire catalogue, with all of the verbiage that entails (be it Waters’, Gilmour’s, or even Syd’s), someone inquired about what a relatively meaningless throwaway line means. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/29 "2012-10-12T17:15:31Z")
There is something great about the idea of Pink Floyd singing about pizza. Although tea and pizza sounds like a disgusting combination. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/30 "2012-10-12T17:39:06Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > Instinctively, I shudder. > > And drool a little Its not incredibly nice, but its brittle, not soggy fried. I think that if in the U.K. it was banned for ever, no one would even notice , let alone complain. We all eat Brussels Sprouts with our Christmas Roast, and we all hate them . But its tradional ! We would miss that as much as a fried slice. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/31 "2012-10-12T19:05:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “Buttie” is, I believe, similar to the German _Butterbrod_, i.e., “sandwich.” A chip buttie would be a sandwich made with what Americans would call French fries. > > If I’m not mistaken, a jammy piece would be just a slice of bread with jam. Yes, it gets so confusing. Here’s a [guide](http://picsthatdontsuck.com/web/british-american-translations.html). ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/32 "2012-10-12T19:24:08Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > There is something great about the idea of Pink Floyd singing about pizza. Although tea and pizza sounds like a disgusting combination. It does, hence my question 😃 I guess the NY version would have been for want of the price of “a Coke and a slice”. When considering cake as a meaning, I realized I would typically speak not of a “slice” of cake but a “piece” of cake, as referenced in the colloquial expression for something very easy to do. Unless it was pound cake, which comes in a loaf. Hmm. I thought it might be toast but I couldn’t really picture buying bread by the (single) slice, but that is apparently what is (or was) done. Anyway bread as a side with coffee or tea would get called “toast” here (fried bread also not crossing my mind), not a “slice”. That’s another thing - I assume that slice of bread is toasted. It would be very strange to consume soft sliced bread on its own, except when making a sandwich (and no, butter is not a sandwich filling, though peanut butter is). A _roll_ of bread maybe, but not sliced bread, which despite having a reputation for greatness MUST be toasted to be eaten with butter or jam. Fried bread sounds awesomelicious, I’m gonna have to try it. Kind of like grilled cheese without the cheese, and made with bacon grease left on the griddle no doubt, after it’s been used to fry an egg or two to boot. Aww yeah. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/33 "2012-10-12T21:57:34Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Its not incredibly nice, but its brittle, not soggy fried. > > I think that if in the U.K. it was banned for ever, no one would even notice , let alone complain. > We all eat Brussels Sprouts with our Christmas Roast, and we all hate them . > > But its tradional ! > > We would miss that as much as a fried slice. Oh, I know. Now that mum has reminded me that it used to be a part of our Sunday morning fry-ups, I remember it well. It’s just the whole ‘fry it in lard, with extra dripping’ ethos has changed and none of us has cooked like that for a few decades. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/34 "2012-10-12T22:36:00Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > That’s another thing - I assume that slice of bread is toasted. It would be very strange to consume soft sliced bread on its own, except when making a sandwich (and no, butter is not a sandwich filling, though peanut butter is). No, it would just be a slice of (untoasted) bread. Bread and butter used to be part of a traditional English tea. Have you never read _Alice in Wonderland_ or seen _The Importance of Being Earnest_? ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/35 "2012-10-12T23:48:55Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > No, it would just be a slice of (untoasted) bread. Bread and butter used to be part of a traditional English tea. > > Have you never read _Alice in Wonderland_ or seen _The Importance of Being Earnest_? Fresh bread and butter is yum. Me and the kid will often have this for weekend late lunches. A good, fresh from the bakery, loaf will last us the afternoon - one buttery slab at a time. nomnomnom. But we’re savages who would have assumed “tea with…” could only have been answered “bikkies” (cookies). ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/36 "2012-10-12T23:55:30Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > That’s another thing - I assume that slice of bread is toasted. It would be very strange to consume soft sliced bread on its own, except when making a sandwich (and no, butter is not a sandwich filling, though peanut butter is). A _roll_ of bread maybe, but not sliced bread, which despite having a reputation for greatness MUST be toasted to be eaten with butter or jam. Americans are weird. ---
**Author:** ![dreitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b782af/32.png) [@dreitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreitan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/37 "2014-07-02T04:56:56Z")
Yes, we are. robardin was probably referring to Wonder Bread. (it has always made me wonder, anyway). A friend from Indiana (The Hoosier State) once explained to me why Indiana plates have the word “wander” on them. He explained: “If you are from Indiana, you tend to wander hoosier daddy”. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/38 "2014-07-02T11:32:27Z")
> [@dreitan](#): > > A friend from Indiana (The Hoosier State) once explained to me why Indiana plates have the word “wander” on them. > > He explained: “If you are from Indiana, you tend to wander hoosier daddy”. Well I suppose it makes sense that if you are going to wait two years to respond to a post you may as well throw in a jab at a license plate used in the 80’s 🙂 Welcome to the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/39 "2014-07-02T11:45:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Alternately, there’s “fried slice”, which is a slice of bread that’s fried in the grease left over from all the other things you’re cooking on a griddle. > [@maggenpye](#): > > Instinctively, I shudder. Well, what _else_ would you do with all that grease? Pour it down the drain? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349/40 "2014-07-02T11:56:17Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, what _else_ would you do with all that grease? Pour it down the drain? Indeed. And bear in mind that customs like these come from the days when you simply did not waste food calories. If grease drips from the meat when you roast it, then you find a way to make that grease palatable - either as cooking fat or as a spread in itself (because why should butter or imitation butter be the only fat you can put on bread?). Butter costs money, but you’ve already paid for the fat off the Sunday beef. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-british-meaning-of-tea-and-a-slice/637349.md?page=3)