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Meaning & use

dinner and dance

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌdɪn.ər ənd ˈdɑːns/
US/ˌdɪn.ɚ ənd ˈdæns/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A social evening where guests eat a meal together and then dance, often to raise money or celebrate an occasion.

    Grammar: Usually a dinner and dance; the plural is dinner and dances or dinners and dances.

    Patterns

    • a dinner and dance for something
    • host a dinner and dance

    The rugby club holds a dinner and dance every December.

    Tickets for the charity dinner and dance cost fifty dollars.

    We met at a dinner and dance in her hometown.

  2. nouncountable

    A formal party for a company or group, with a meal, speeches and a band or DJ.

    Grammar: Used as the name of a regular event.

    Patterns

    • the annual dinner and dance

    The firm's annual dinner and dance is held at a hotel.

    The headteacher gave a short speech at the staff dinner and dance.

    Everyone dressed up for the school's dinner and dance.

Word forms

pluraldinners and dances

Common combinations

annual dinner and dance
The annual dinner and dance sells out quickly.
charity dinner and dance
They raised money at a charity dinner and dance.
attend a dinner and dance
We will attend the dinner and dance on Friday.
dinner and dance tickets
Dinner and dance tickets are on sale in the office.

Synonyms and how they differ

gala
A gala is a grander, more public celebration, while a dinner and dance can be a modest club evening.
banquet
A banquet stresses a large formal meal, whereas a dinner and dance adds dancing.
ball
A ball is a formal dance, usually with a meal less central, while a dinner and dance gives equal weight to both.
social
A social is a casual gathering and may not include a meal, unlike a dinner and dance.

Word family

dinner noun
the main meal of the day
dance noun
movement to music, or a social event for it
dinner dance noun
shorter form of the same event
dancer noun
a person who dances

Commonly confused: dinner and dance or dinner party?

dinner and dance vs dinner party

A dinner party is a meal at someone's home, usually with no dancing.

Practice

The club is holding a ____ on Saturday, with a three-course meal followed by a live band.

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