happy hour

Meaning

'Happy hour' refers to a specific period of the day, usually in the late afternoon or early evening, during which a bar or restaurant offers drinks and appetizers at reduced prices. It is a casual term widely used by travelers and locals alike to socialize affordably.

Examples

• Let's meet at the hotel lobby at five o'clock for happy hour.

  Let's meet at the hotel lobby at five o'clock for happy hour.

• Does this bar have a happy hour on weekends, or is it just weekdays?

  Does this bar have a happy hour on weekends, or is it just weekdays?

• We got half-price appetizers because we arrived during happy hour.

  We got half-price appetizers because we arrived during happy hour.

• They offer great cocktail discounts during their daily happy hour.

  They offer great cocktail discounts during their daily happy hour.

• Happy hour runs from 4 PM to 7 PM at most places downtown.

  Happy hour runs from 4 PM to 7 PM at most places downtown.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Let's go to the happy hours after work.

  ✓ Let's go to happy hour after work.

  'Happy hour' is generally used as a singular, uncountable concept when referring to the event or time period.

• ✗ We had a very happy hour at the bar yesterday.

  ✓ We went to happy hour at the bar yesterday.

  Saying 'had a happy hour' can sound like you just had a joyful 60 minutes. Use 'go to happy hour' or 'arrive during happy hour' to refer to the discount period.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If we leave the office now, we can make it to the pub in time for ___.

  💡 The time of day when drinks are cheaper.

  Show answer

  happy hour

• They have a fantastic ___ where all draft beers are half off.

  💡 A period of discount prices at a bar.

  Show answer

  happy hour