a late dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a late dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a dinner that is served or eaten later than the usual time. Example: "After a long day at work, I decided to treat myself to a late dinner at my favorite restaurant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are usually famished, so everyone eats a late dinner.

The New York Times

Decide on Rattlesnake Ranch Cafe for a late dinner.

The New York Times

"And we'd wait for him for dinner; we were always having a late dinner.

The New York Times

Once safely outside, everyone headed to a restaurant on Forty-second Street for a late dinner.

The New Yorker

On our first night in Berlin, our ambition was simply to find a late dinner.

The New York Times - Travel

I returned my skates and headed through St.-Jean Gate for a late dinner.

The New York Times - Travel

His daily routine is fairly regimented: work into the evening, exercise and a late dinner.

The New York Times - Magazine

One evening in mid-September, the day after she turned twenty-seven, andanda and I met for a late dinner.

The New Yorker

On a Saturday in May, I met Eliasson in Copenhagen for a late dinner at an Indian restaurant.

The New Yorker

We had a late dinner, bistek tacos and pulpo gallego, octopus in olive oil and garlic, soft like butter.

The New York Times - Travel

If you must eat a late dinner, keep it light and avoid foods that tend to cause you indigestion.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a late dinner", consider the context. If you want to emphasize the reason for the delay, you might say, "We had a late dinner due to the unexpected traffic."

Common error

Avoid using too many adjectives modifying "dinner". Saying "a very late and elaborate dinner" can sound redundant. Choose the most impactful adjective or rephrase the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a late dinner" functions as a noun phrase, with "late" acting as an adjective modifying the noun "dinner". Ludwig shows its use in various contexts to describe meals consumed later than the typical dining hour.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a late dinner" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that describes a meal eaten later than usual. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is commonly found in various sources, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral in tone, the context often reveals the reason for the late timing. Consider the implications when using the phrase, ensuring clarity and avoiding redundancy. As Ludwig AI highlights, this expression follows standard grammatical rules.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A late supper

Replaces "dinner" with "supper", which is often used to describe a late evening meal.

A delayed dinner

Focuses on the postponement of the dinner time rather than the time itself.

A belated dinner

Similar to "delayed dinner", emphasizing the tardiness of the meal.

Late night dining

Emphasizes the act of dining late.

An evening meal

A more general term for a meal eaten in the evening, without necessarily implying it's late.

An after-hours meal

Highlights that the meal is consumed outside of typical dining hours.

A nighttime repast

Uses more formal language to describe a late meal.

A post-event dinner

Indicates that the dinner occurs after a specific event.

A midnight snack

Implies a very late and often lighter meal.

A twilight dinner

Suggests the dinner takes place during twilight hours.

FAQs

How can I use "a late dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "a late dinner" to describe a meal that is eaten later than usual. For example, "After the concert, we went out for "a late dinner"."

What's the difference between "a late dinner" and "a late supper"?

While both refer to a meal eaten later in the evening, "supper" is sometimes considered a lighter meal than "dinner". In many contexts, they are interchangeable, but "a late supper" may imply a less formal or smaller meal.

What can I say instead of "a late dinner"?

Alternatives include "an evening meal", "a nighttime repast", or simply specifying the time, such as "We ate dinner at 10 p.m."

Is it grammatically correct to say "a late dinner"?

Yes, "a late dinner" is grammatically correct. The adjective "late" correctly modifies the noun "dinner" to indicate the time at which the meal is consumed.