a late lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a late lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a meal that is eaten later than the typical lunch hour. Example: "Since I had a busy morning, I decided to have a late lunch around 2 PM."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Typically, I'm up by late afternoon" on New Year's Day, he said, "but this time, I got up, had a late lunch and went back to bed.

The New York Times

Then lobster rolls for a late lunch.

The New York Times

"I had a late lunch," Simon said.

The New Yorker

Maybe we can have a late lunch?" "Sure," he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I had a late lunch: rice, tuna, no sauce.

The Guardian - Sport

Spirit thus restored: off to a late lunch.

The New York Times

The other day, Gold went to Jitlada for a late lunch.

The New Yorker

She spoke over a late lunch after a rehearsal at the Joyce's Midtown studios.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Gasparino, 51, met for a late lunch at San Pietro, one of his Midtown haunts.

The New York Times

After the game, we drove to Chinatown for a late lunch.

The New York Times - Magazine

After sitting for a photo, he killed time reading "Moby-Dick" and eating a late lunch.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event that caused the delay, use "a late lunch" to emphasize the consequence of the delay: "Due to the unexpected meeting, we had "a late lunch".

Common error

Avoid using "late" repeatedly in the same sentence or paragraph. Vary your language; for example, instead of "We had a late start, resulting in a late lunch", try "Our delayed start meant we didn't eat lunch until much later."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a late lunch" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the act of eating lunch at a time later than usual, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a late lunch" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase describing a lunch that occurs later than usual. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to specify the timing of the meal and is commonly found in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's best to consider alternatives to avoid repetition and to clearly convey the reason for the delay. Common errors include overuse of the word "late" nearby, so it's important to vary language for clarity and style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a belated lunch

Highlights that the lunch is happening after its normal time.

a tardy lunch

Another way to say that the lunch is happening later than it should.

a delayed lunch

Emphasizes the postponement of the meal rather than the time itself.

a postponed lunch

Similar to 'delayed', stressing the action of moving the meal to a later time.

an afternoon meal

Focuses on the time of day the meal is consumed.

a late dinner

Shifts the meal to the evening, implying an even later timeframe.

a brunch-like meal

Indicates a meal that combines breakfast and lunch, consumed later than usual.

a second lunch

Suggests having lunch again after the normal lunchtime.

a midday snack

Suggests a small meal consumed around the typical lunchtime, but later.

a leisurely lunch

Indicates a relaxed and unhurried meal, potentially extending into the late afternoon.

FAQs

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

You can use "a late lunch" to describe a meal eaten later than usual. For example, "After the meeting, we decided to have "a late lunch" at the nearby cafe."

What is a suitable alternative to "a late lunch"?

Alternatives include "a delayed lunch", "an afternoon meal", or "a belated lunch" depending on the specific context.

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

"A late lunch" refers to a lunch eaten later than the typical lunchtime, while "a late dinner" refers to a dinner eaten later than the typical dinnertime. They simply describe meals at different times of the day.

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

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase uses "late" as an adjective to describe the timing of the noun "lunch".