nooner
LowInformal, Colloquial, Slang
Definition
Meaning
A meeting or appointment, especially of a romantic or sexual nature, during the lunch hour.
Any brief activity or event scheduled for or occurring around midday. Often used colloquially to refer to a lunchtime meeting, appointment, or rendezvous, particularly one implying a tryst or brief romantic encounter.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries a strong implication of a brief, midday affair, often illicit or recreational, set against the routine of a workday. While its primary connotation is romantic/sexual, it can be used humorously or euphemistically for other lunchtime activities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties, but its usage as slang for a sexual encounter is more firmly established in American English.
Connotations
In both: Strongly implies a clandestine or leisure-based midday break. In American English, the sexual connotation is primary and immediate. In British English, it may be slightly more ambiguous or learned from American media.
Frequency
More frequently encountered in American informal speech and pop culture. Less common in everyday British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] had a nooner with [Object].Let's schedule a nooner.It was just a quick nooner.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A nooner special”
- “As quick as a nooner”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely informal and risky; would be considered highly unprofessional in most corporate settings.
Academic
Not used in academic discourse.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation among friends, often with a humorous or suggestive tone.
Technical
No technical usage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They're planning to nooner at that new boutique hotel.
American English
- He noonered with his colleague, claiming it was just a working lunch.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He has a nooner with his friend for lunch.
- We met for a nooner at the café.
- Let's try to fit in a quick nooner next Tuesday.
- His calendar just said 'nooner' from 12 to 1.
- She joked that their 'business lunch' was looking more like a nooner.
- The hotel does a brisk trade in nooner bookings on weekdays.
- The novel's protagonist indulges in a series of illicit nooners, using his lunch hour to escape his mundane existence.
- The term 'nooner' carries with it a frisson of transgression, implying a stolen pleasure amidst the day's obligations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'NOON' + 'er' — an '-er' thing you do at NOON, like a 'lunch' date but more secretive.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME OF DAY FOR EVENT (The specific time 'noon' stands for the type of brief, contained event that fits into that slot).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'полуденник' or 'обеденник' – these are not established terms and sound nonsensical. The concept of a specifically lunchtime romantic tryst may not have a direct single-word equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal contexts. Assuming it only means a romantic encounter; context is key for other brief noon meetings (e.g., 'golf nooner').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'nooner' be MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but that is its primary and most common connotation. It can be used humorously or euphemistically for other brief lunchtime activities (e.g., a 'golf nooner'), but the suggestive undertone is often present.
Absolutely not. It is highly informal slang and in most professional environments, its use would be considered inappropriate and potentially offensive.
A 'lunch date' is neutral and can be romantic, platonic, or business-related. A 'nooner' strongly implies a brief, often secretive romantic or sexual encounter specifically timed for the lunch hour.
It is not a crude or obscene word, but it is decidedly informal and suggestive. Its acceptability depends entirely on the social context and the relationship between speakers.