Regency Words: Tea and Turn Out

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In May 1823 the Theatre Royal debuted an entertainment called “Tea and Turn Out; Or, Performers and Fashionables.”  Years later in 1829, this comedic anectdote relayed the following:

As soon as the refreshments of the evening were over the conversation became general and occasionally particular our absent friends were not forgotten nor were their most private and delicate concerns overlooked About nine o clock a general rising took place which not being resisted on the part of our entertainers we read our fate in each other's eyes and made a simultaneous movement to wards the door whence with ill suppressed chagrin we descended into the street and made the best of our way home Such was the nature of our evening pastime in the Borough at the time I first resided there but returning after an absence of long years I looked and saw the face of things quite changed many old friends and old fashions had died and
among the rest Tea and Turn out had given up the ghost and better things of which it was only the type and shadow reigned in its place Instead of that meagre mockery the supper tables plethoric even to apoplexy exhibited in beatific vision such varieties as the following A large round of boiled beef smothered among cabbage through whose silvery canopy of mist appeared a smoked goose a large mutton ham a roast of pork a dish of dog fish and of Welsh rabbits melted in their own fat The light meal was diluted by copious draughts of strong home brewed ale and the whole etherealized by several large bowls of rum punch after which the happy guests retired to rest to enjoy those pleasant dreams which are the never failing reward of such good living In this way they managed matters at the time of my last visit to the Borough but alas there is nothing permanent on earth except change for I have lately been informed that Supper and Turn in hath gone the way of Tea and Turn out A great and goodly con
version hath taken place at their evening parties where controversial divinity is the standing dish Mutton hams smoked geese and Welsh rabbits are superseded by knotty points of faith still harder of digestion and punch has given place to prayers MALCOLM, J. (1829). Tales of Field and Flood, and sketches of life at home. United Kingdom: (n.p.).

This idiom took off like wildfire by the early Victorian era, often used in a derogatory way to poke fun at the more staid middle classes.

I found another reference from the theatre in 1828: “we are to have a lot of choice spirits here today, to celebrate my arrival — none of your candle-stumping, tea and turn out parties — bohea and bundle!” Cumberland, J. (1828). Cumberland’s Minor Theatre. United Kingdom: John Cumberland. And in the 1827 Etonian, it was even listed in a rattle of terms for “Noisy-nonsensical talk” including: “the Soiree, or Tea and turn out talk; the Poluphloisvian, or fustian talk; and the Pomphoulouugopaphlasmatic, or noisy-nonsensical talk.” Bouverie, B. (1827). The Eton Miscellany. United Kingdom: T. Ingalton.

So while an internet search may tell you its a Victorian term, I think we can fairly assess it to be a late, long Regency term .

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