Wine and dine

Meaning

The idiom "wine and dine" means to have a pleasant evening with food, drink, and good company. It can also mean to entertain or host someone for a meal, usually in a formal setting.

Usage

• My parents always invite their friends over for wine and dine on Friday nights.
• We decided to go out to dinner and wine at our favorite restaurant.
• I had the pleasure of hosting my colleagues for wine and dine last week.
• The company treated its employees to a wine and dine event as a thank you for their hard work.
• My girlfriend surprised me with a romantic wine and dine experience for our anniversary.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom is not entirely clear, but it has been used in English since at least the 16th century. The earliest known use of "wine and dine" was found in a collection of proverbs in 1580. Over time, the phrase became associated with more elaborate events and shifted to the modern-day meaning of a formal dinner party.

Synonyms in English

• Host/hostess a dinner party
• Have a sit-down meal
• Dine out
• Enjoy a meal
• Go on a date night

Synonyms in other languages

| Language | Idiomatic expression | Translation | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | French | "Dîner en compagnie" | To dine with company | A formal dinner with friends or colleagues. | | Italian | "La colazione/il pranzo" | Breakfast/lunch | The meal is seen as an important social event and is often shared with family or friends. | | Spanish | "Una cena" | Dinner | A gathering for food, drink, and conversation. | | German | "Ein Abendessen" | An evening meal | A formal dinner party with alcoholic beverages. | | Mandarin Chinese | "Feast" | 席 | A large gathering for food, drink, and entertainment. |

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