vegetarian meal served at funerals; bland, ordinary thing
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
vegetarian meal served by a bereaved family to visitors at a funeral
dialectA traditional custom in some Chinese regions, where after a funeral, the host serves simple vegetarian meals (often featuring tofu) to those who came to pay respects. The term carries the connotation of simplicity and solemnity.
After the funeral, the host family invited everyone to stay for the memorial meal.
According to the customs of my hometown, a vegetarian funeral meal must be served for mourning events.
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This meal has no meat or alcohol; it's truly a plain funeral meal.
noun
something bland, plain, or uninteresting; a simple affair
dialectAn extended, figurative meaning used to describe things that are boring, lacking excitement or flavor.
There aren't any activities planned for tonight's gathering; it's just a bland, ordinary affair.
The story he told was as bland as a funeral meal; it had no flavor.