tea party

American  

noun

1. a social gathering, usually in the afternoon, at which tea and light refreshments are served.

2. (initial capital letters) a conservative political movement in the U.S. that opposes taxes and government spending: named in reference to the Boston Tea Party of 1773.

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Tea Party ¹ British  

noun

1. (in the US) a political movement, associated with the right wing of the Republican Party, favouring reduction in taxation and government spending

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tea party ² British  

noun

1. a social gathering in the afternoon at which tea is served

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Etymology

Origin of tea party

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

With so many stations closed or short on gas, it felt like the Mad Hatter’s tea party paradox: “Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today.”

From Los Angeles Times

BOSTON—The home of a famous 1773 tea party is revolting again, this time over coffee.

From The Wall Street Journal

Which one had been the one that had the tea party?

From Literature

In Summerland, spirits had bodies and clothes, lived in cottages or palaces, sat on sofas or under willow trees, sang and held tea parties, ate “spiritual food” for breakfast.

From Literature

For tea parties, if we have any sense, we buy neon-frosted supermarket cakes.

From The Wall Street Journal