# good afternoon

idiom · CEFR A1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/good-afternoon
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

A polite greeting you use when you meet someone in the afternoon, usually after 12 p.m.

## Examples

- Good afternoon, how are you today?
- The receptionist offered a polite good afternoon as I walked into the office building.
- Upon entering the quiet library, the visitor whispered a respectful good afternoon to the librarian at the front desk.

## Origin

Probably a shortening of the greeting "I wish you a good afternoon," the phrase represents a conventional ellipsis of the speaker's intent. While the full sentiment is rarely articulated in modern speech, the remaining noun phrase serves as the standard polite formula. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.