English breakfast

English breakfast (countable and uncountable, plural English breakfasts)

1. (countable) Synonym of full English breakfast.
2. (usually uncountable) Ellipsis of English breakfast tea.
   • 1910 September, Georgia Fraser, chapter VIII, in Crow-Step, New York, N.Y.: Witter and Kintner, →OCLC, page 104:

     His frequent remarks to her father, his renewal at intervals of his cup of English breakfast and cream, caused Sophie spasms of impatience.

   • 1997, “Tea Supplement”, in Asian Hotel & Catering Times, Hong Kong: Thomson Press, →OCLC, page 24, column 3:

     There’s no denying that a nice strong cup of English breakfast or a double espresso can provide a kick start, but there are plenty of fruit and herbal alternatives that can do the same trick.

   • 2004, Peter Straub, chapter 10, in In the Night Room: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Random House, →ISBN, part 1 (Willy’s Losing Her Mind Again/So Is Tim), pages 44–45:

     He left her sitting on the porch by herself, the mistress of the wicker chair, a front yard festooned with pickup trucks, and two hot cups of English breakfast she had not wanted in the first place.

   • 2009, Innkeeping Quarterly, volumes 3–4, Haddon Heights, N.J.: Professional Association of Innkeepers International, →OCLC, page 28, column 1:

     Breakfast teas tend to be hearty and are often blends of tea from India and Africa. Favorites include English Breakfasts, Earl Greys, Ceylons, and Assams.

   • 2009 June 4, Danny King, Blue Collar, London: Serpent’s Tail, →ISBN, pages 18 (Jason and the Lagernauts) and 75 (The greaseless spoon):

     ‘Just had a cup of tea and went. Have you heard of English breakfast?’ ‘What, d’you mean like eggs and bacon?’ ‘No, like English breakfast tea?’ […] ‘Tea up,’ I said, returning to the bedroom and handing Charley a steaming hot cup of English breakfast.

   • 2014, Vanessa Greene, “Thursday 14 August”, in The Seafront Tea Rooms, London: Sphere, →ISBN, page 35:

     She remembered the Sunday afternoons she and Sarah had spent at the Rosebud, catching up over cups of English breakfast and carrot cake.

   • 2019, JL Merrow, chapter 20, in Counter Culture, Burnsville, N.C.: Riptide Publishing, →ISBN, page 150:

     Of course, in an actual competition we’d both have cups of English breakfast or Earl Grey, and the same amount of milk for fairness, but this’ll do for you to get the idea.

   • 2021, Joani Elliott, chapter 29, in The Audacity of Sara Grayson: A Novel, New York, N.Y.; Nashville, Tenn.: Post Hill Press, →ISBN:

     She sipped hot English breakfast from her thermos and pulled the blanket close around her.

   • 2023, Stuart Field, chapter 26, in Not a Friend of the Family (A Friend of the Family; 2), [Northwood, London]: Next Chapter, →ISBN:

     ‘What kind would you like?’ replied the waitress. […] / ‘I don’t know, I’m not really a tea drinker,’ Melanie said with a lost puppy look. The girl laughed once more. / ‘Tell you what, I’ll bring you a cup of English breakfast,’ the girl said, her smile growing broader but holding a different content.

   • 2024, Abby Corson, chapter 2, in The Concierge, London: Black & White Publishing, →ISBN:

     So, I confess—I am at home. In my lounge room to be exact. In a big, reddish brown Chesterfield armchair holding a cup of English breakfast, no milk, and looking out at my little garden, complete with a stone wall at the end and a few pairs of socks and undies on a washing line.