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Glite Dictionary
afternoon treat

afternoon treat

1 1.6
A small snack in the afternoon like tea and cookies
  • noun
translation icon : merienda de la tarde

Examples

  • So we're going to get our little special afternoon treat and answer some questions.

  • For your Friday afternoon treat, here is the other side of the photo of Michelle's face taken from the other side of the stage.

    Blog text (18)

  • Every Saturday, we enjoy a delicious afternoon treat of homemade cookies and milk.

  • After finishing their homework, the kids looked forward to their afternoon treat of fruit and yogurt.

  • On sunny days, a refreshing ice cream cone makes the perfect afternoon treat.

Synonyms

treat
vsafternoon treat
398 1.0

Something special and enjoyable like ice cream or a nice outing

is a small timed refreshment later in the day rather than any special thing
snack food
vsafternoon treat
11 1.0

A small light food you eat between meals, like chips or fruit

is a small meal later in the day rather than any quick bite
afternoon tea
vsafternoon treat
  • UK
9 1.7

A light meal in the afternoon with tea and small cakes, sandwiches, or scones

is a simple light snack later in the day rather than a formal set
afternoon delight
vsafternoon treat
  • Informal
1 6.3

A small pleasant treat or activity you enjoy in the afternoon

is an ordinary small refreshment later in the day rather than a special indulgence

How Filling

treat
398 1.0
afternoon treat
1 1.6
snack
471 1.0

Surface Forms

afternoon treat singular
afternoon treats plural

Morphology

afternoon + treat

The phrase 'afternoon treat' is fully compositional: 'afternoon' (a time of day) combined with 'treat' (a small pleasant food or reward) straightforwardly yields a snack or small pleasure taken in the afternoon. This time‑modifier + noun pattern is common in English and across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Afternoon treat paints a simple picture: a small, special food you enjoy in the late part of the day. Imagine children having cookies and milk between lunch and dinner — afternoon shows the time and treat means a special snack. So, it means 'a snack or light refreshment in the afternoon'.