bite

Please   Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:17 pm GMT
"I went out to have a late bite to eat with another agent."
Couldn't he have just said, "I went out to have a late bite with another agent"?
.   Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:10 am GMT
This is the sort of question I hate.

If you know the answer, why ask the question.

OK

'a late bite': what does this mean?

it means, to have a bite to eat.

So, can you say, a late bite with another Agent. Well yes, but it is probably better to say, to have a late bite to eat with another Agent, because otherwise it might sound nonsensical.

To a certain extent it depends on who you are talking too. If you are talking to someone with a limited command of English, it is probably better to stick to fairly simple English and avoid assuming that they will understand that:

a late bite, means, a late bite to eat.
Please   Sun Sep 06, 2009 1:47 am GMT
"I'm going to have some tea to drink"
or
"I'm going to have some tea"?
Another Guest   Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:25 am GMT
"Tea" is different, because it's normally a noun. "Bite" is normally a verb, so when you use it as a noun, it's good to qualify with a phrase like "to eat" or "of cake" to clarify.
Rapp   Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:01 pm GMT
I think "a bite to eat" is a set phrase, though. I've always heard people use that whole phrase. I think it is becoming more common to leave off the "to eat" in certain cases - like "Let's go grab a quick bite" - but the full phrase is very common.