lunch
A1Neutral to Informal. Used in all contexts, from casual to formal business.
Definition
Meaning
The meal eaten in the middle of the day, typically around noon.
Can refer to the event or occasion of eating that meal (e.g., a business lunch); also a light meal or snack eaten at any time, though this is less common.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun, but commonly used as a verb ('to lunch'). The word does not inherently specify the size or content of the meal, which can range from a sandwich to a multi-course affair.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight differences in verb usage and related terminology. In the US, 'lunch break' is common; in the UK, 'lunch hour' is equally common. The verb 'to lunch' (meaning to eat lunch) is perhaps slightly more formal or old-fashioned in both, but still used.
Connotations
Similar neutral connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely high and virtually identical frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have lunchto eat lunchto go for lunchto lunch at/on/into be out to lunchto take a lunch breakVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “out to lunch (slang: inattentive or crazy)”
- “there's no such thing as a free lunch”
- “a liquid lunch (humorous: lunch where alcohol is consumed instead of food)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Let's discuss the figures over lunch." Refers to a business lunch, a common meeting format.
Academic
"The seminar includes a working lunch for participants." Used in schedules and event planning.
Everyday
"What did you have for lunch today?" The most frequent, casual use.
Technical
Minimal technical use, except in fields like nutrition ('school lunch program') or hospitality ('lunch service').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Shall we lunch at the new pub by the river?
- He is lunching with a client today.
American English
- Let's lunch on the patio if the weather's nice.
- She lunched at her desk to finish the report.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'lunchtime' is used adverbially) I'll see you lunchtime.
American English
- (Not standard; 'lunchtime' is used adverbially) Call me lunchtime tomorrow.
adjective
British English
- The lunch menu looked very appealing.
- We have a lunch meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
American English
- Please submit your lunch order by 11 AM.
- The lunch special today is meatloaf.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have lunch at school.
- She eats a sandwich for lunch.
- What time do you normally take your lunch break?
- We should meet for lunch next week.
- The working lunch allowed them to finalise the contract details.
- He's been out to lunch lately when it comes to understanding market trends.
- The conference fee is inclusive of all materials and a three-course lunch.
- They lunched frugally, discussing the implications of the merger.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the crunch of a sandwich at LUNCH time.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUNCH IS A BREAK (from work/school); LUNCH IS FUEL (for the afternoon).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'ланч' in formal Russian writing; use 'обед'.
- Russian 'ланч' often implies a fixed-price business menu, which is narrower than the English 'lunch'.
- Do not confuse 'lunch' (дневной приём пищи) with 'dinner' (главный вечерний приём пищи).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I lunch usually at 1 pm.' (Correct: 'I usually have lunch at 1 pm.' – verb 'to lunch' is less common).
- Incorrect: 'We made a lunch.' (Correct: 'We made/had lunch.').
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'out to lunch', what does 'lunch' metaphorically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, primarily. 'Luncheon' is more formal, old-fashioned, or used for specific, often organised, events (e.g., 'a charity luncheon'). In everyday speech, 'lunch' is standard.
Yes, but it is less common than phrases like 'have lunch' or 'eat lunch'. Using 'to lunch' can sound slightly formal or deliberate (e.g., 'lunching with colleagues').
Traditionally, 'lunch' is the midday meal and 'dinner' is the main evening meal. However, usage varies regionally and socially; some use 'dinner' for the main meal of the day, whether at midday or evening, and 'supper' for a lighter evening meal.
Yes, when referring to a specific lunch event or type. For example: 'We had a wonderful lunch at her house,' or 'It was a very business-like lunch.' However, for the general concept, it's often uncountable: 'I don't eat much for lunch.'
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