[late at night] vs [late tonight]

Question

I have made up the examples below.(1) I'm very busy with my project right now. I'll see you late tonight.(2) I'm very busy with my project right now. I'll see you late at night.My non-native English speaking friends think they both mean the same thing. They have given the two examples below to support their answer. (3) We're going to have a business meeting late in the afternoon.(4) We're going to have a business meeting late this afternoon.Both (3) and (4) suggest that your meeting won't be early in the "middle" of the day. Based on this logic, they think "late tonight" and "late at night" are interchangeable.What is your opinion? Thank you very much.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

ansonguyboth mean the same thing.

No. That's wrong.

ansonguyI'll see you late at night.

— Can you meet me at Joe's Ice-Cream Shop next week Tuesday?
— Yes. I'll see you late at night.

— And when can you meet me at the Roller Rink on Plunket Street?
— Tonight. I'll see you late tonight.

The time of the meeting is not the same.

Expressions like late tonight (i.e., late this night) and late this afternoon refer only to the night or afternoon of the same day that the expression is said.

Expressions like late at night and late in the afternoon can refer to any night or afternoon in the past, present, or future.

Last Friday we met late at night is OK, but Last Friday we met late tonight is wrong.

So these expressions are definitely not interchangeable.

CJ

[late at night] vs [late tonight]

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions