pink tea

Noun

pink tea (countable and uncountable, plural pink teas)

1. (US, historical) A fashionable formal tea party or other social gathering; specifically, one organized and attended chiefly by women to discuss matters of suffrage, raise funds for charity, etc.
   • Feb. 4, they served a pink tea, from which they realized $19.70.1886 March, L. D. Carhart, “Home Department. [Des Moines Branch.]”, in Mrs. W[illia]m F[airfield] Warren [i.e., Harriet Merrick Warren], editor, The Heathen Woman’s Friend, volume XVII, number 9...
   • Why, Maud, it’s too delightful to be real, and I am so glad I live in Cloverfield, for it’s getting to be altogether a charming place, with its ‘Pink Teas’ and ‘Corn Festivals,’ etc. But now for a very important question, What are you going to wear?1887 April, L. S. L., “Miss Primington’s ‘Violet Luncheon’”, in Arthur’s Home Magazine, volume LV, Philadelphia, Pa.: T[imothy] S[hay] Arthur & Son, →OCLC, page 411, column 1
2. (US, broadly) Any exclusive social gathering.
   • At the expiration of the solemn ceremonies connected therewith Private Flanagan of the Irish tent arose, and, after congratulating the learned doctors of the Keeley Club on the success of the meeting, invited all present to attend a pink tea that would be held in his tent that evening at eight p.m.1895, “The Vigilantes at the Capitol Grounds”, in The “City Guard”: A History of Company “B”, First Regiment Infantry, N.G.C. [National Guard of California]: During the Sacramento Campaign, July 3 to...
   • They might lose their reverence for our pretentious Senate when they see how Senators spend their mornings reading novels and their afternoons attending pink teas, instead of studying questions of public welfare.1896 April, Hazen Stuart Pingree, quotee, “Two Interesting Suggestions from Mayor Pingree”, in William O. Krohn, Alfred Bayliss, editors, The Child-Study Monthly, volume I, number 10, Chicago, Ill....
3. (US, also, attributive, figuratively) Something (as an event or policy) excessively polite and refined; specifically, one regarded as ineffective and weak.
   • Q. Now, Mr. Mitchell, your testimony indicates that you know just what kind of language is used around a garage? / A. Yes, sir. / Q. It is not always a little pink tea affair? / A. No; sometimes I "cuss" a lot myself. / Q. And when the men, and even the bosses talk, it isn't the kind of language...1935 October 22, Stephen Mitchell (witness), “Transcript of Hearing. [Testimony of Stephen Mitchell.]”, in National Labor Relations Board, Petitioner vs. Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines, Inc. and...
   • In the interest of self-preservation invoke spirit of Paul Revere to awaken Americans in these mournful times against soft-headed thinking and pink-tea diplomacy. Let us look to our own ramparts and man them like Americans.1950 July 26, George W[ilson] Malone, quoting Robert H. Raring, “Statement of the Honorable George W. Malone, United States Senator from the State of Nevada”, in Import Tax on Copper: Proceedings in...

   Synonyms:

   tea party

4. (India, Pakistan, uncountable) A hot drink from the Indian subcontinent with a pink colour, made with gunpowder tea, baking soda, and milk.

   Synonyms:

   Kashmiri tea, noon chai