cocktail hour

American  

noun

1. the interval before the evening meal during which cocktails and other alcoholic beverages are often served.

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Etymology

Origin of cocktail hour

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

A complex cider with enough of a tart kick to enliven any cocktail hour.

From The Wall Street Journal

During the cocktail hour ahead of Tuesday night’s dinner, U.S. business leaders talked to Saudi officials about potential deals with the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund wealth fund, its main pocket for foreign investments, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

It underscores Garten’s prevailing mission to simplify even the most daunting tasks with style, whether that’s preparing a spatchcocked chicken for weeknight dinners, savoring a jumbo glass of Cosmopolitan during an at-home cocktail hour, or hosting the perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

From Salon

I arrived at Gustavino’s, the tony East Side venue, midway through the 6 p.m. cocktail hour.

From Slate

Vincent met Brian Kaspar at a cocktail hour for high-yield fundraisers.

From Salon