an opulent dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an opulent dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a lavish or luxurious meal, often associated with fine dining or special occasions. Example: "The gala featured an opulent dinner, complete with gourmet dishes and exquisite wines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Every year, scholars from around the world gather for a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, where they sit around an opulent dinner table, peppering Mr. Putin with questions for hours.

The New York Times

For a wonkish career diplomat, Araud was known for his subtle wit — and for throwing fabulous fetes full of avant-garde decor (a masquerade ball last year featured a tableau of stuffed animals seated as if attending an opulent dinner party; holiday decorations included upside-down trees and mannequins with animal heads in punk-rocker costume).

The Washington Post

Your most embarrassing travel faux pas: At the end of a rugged trip through China, I found myself having to dress for an opulent dinner in Hong Kong and having no clean, chic eveningwear.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In Dubai last year to participate in its excellent literature festival, I discovered, at a characteristically opulent dinner, that the subject of conversation among British expats at my table was an event from the previous day involving Paxman and the Indian writer Pankaj Mishra, on the legacy of empire.

The Guardian - Opinion

We dug a little and found that the pictures of Mr. Booker at the opulent dinner party were taken from a New York magazine article published May 5, 2003, profiling the host, Boykin Curry.

The New York Times

"When we were kids, it was an opulent James Bond-like dinner house called the Stuft Shirt," Klohs says.

The New York Times

The indoor pool is a bonus, and the restaurant, with an opulent $20 dinner buffet, showcases excellent Bulgarian wines like No Man's Land, a red from the Damianitza region, the former buffer zone between Bulgaria and Greece.

The New York Times - Travel

This entire campaign for marriage equality, brought to you by the mainstream gay rights movement, is about assimilating rich, white gays and lesbians into a society that politely tolerates all sorts of atrocities at the most opulent dinner parties.

Huffington Post

"They would open a bottle and debate whether it was real, and Rudy would always be the one loudly proclaiming something was a forgery," said John Slover, the wine director at Ciano in Manhattan, who witnessed many opulent dinners from 2004 to 2007 when he was a sommelier at Cru. "The person who constantly comes off as the authority on what's fake and what's not fake puts himself above suspicion".

The New York Times

In some very social circles, it even overshadows the original in Switzerland, as far as the partying, the opulent dinners and the unbridled hobnobbing are concerned.

The New York Times

I remember relatively opulent dinners at their flat, with lots of vodka, sovietskoje shampanskoje and endless discussions about bureaucracy, corruption, anti-Semitism, alcoholism, crime and the daily tribulations of Soviet life subjects that Visotzky addressed in his songs.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a dining experience, use "an opulent dinner" to evoke a sense of luxury, extravagance, and attention to detail. This phrase works well in settings such as galas, high-end restaurants, or historical events.

Common error

Avoid using "an opulent dinner" to describe everyday meals or casual dining experiences. The phrase implies a significant level of formality and expense, making it unsuitable for commonplace scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "an opulent dinner" is to act as a noun phrase, with "opulent" functioning as an adjective modifying the noun "dinner". It specifies the kind of dinner being described, highlighting its luxurious nature. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase consistently describes a high-end dining experience.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an opulent dinner" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe a lavish and luxurious dining experience. Ludwig's analysis, along with real-world examples, reveals that it is typically found in news and media contexts, describing formal events or high-end dining. While grammatically sound, it's important to use the phrase judiciously, reserving it for appropriate contexts where the meal truly warrants such a descriptor. Alternatives like "a lavish dinner" or "a luxurious dinner" can be used for slight variations in emphasis. While infrequent, its presence in reputable sources indicates that it's a valuable phrase for conveying extravagance and sophistication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a lavish dinner

Replaces "opulent" with "lavish", emphasizing the abundance and richness of the meal.

a luxurious dinner

Substitutes "opulent" with "luxurious", focusing on the high quality and comfort of the dining experience.

an extravagant dinner

Replaces "opulent" with "extravagant", highlighting the lavish and unrestrained nature of the meal.

a sumptuous dinner

Substitutes "opulent" with "sumptuous", emphasizing the rich and delicious qualities of the food.

a grand feast

Replaces the entire phrase to focus on the scale and celebratory nature of the meal.

a gourmet dining experience

Shifts the focus to the quality and expertise involved in preparing the meal.

a decadent meal

Replaces "dinner" with "meal" and "opulent" with "decadent", emphasizing the indulgence and self-gratification associated with the food.

a refined dining affair

Highlights the elegance and sophistication of the dinner.

a fancy dinner

Uses a more colloquial term to describe an upscale dining experience.

an elaborate repast

Replaces "dinner" with a more formal term "repast" and "opulent" with "elaborate", emphasizing the intricate and detailed preparations involved.

FAQs

What does "an opulent dinner" mean?

The phrase "an opulent dinner" refers to a lavish and luxurious meal, typically involving expensive ingredients, elaborate preparation, and a formal setting.

How can I use "an opulent dinner" in a sentence?

You might say, "The charity gala featured "an opulent dinner" with multiple courses and fine wines" or "The guests were treated to "an opulent dinner" in the palace ballroom".

What can I say instead of "an opulent dinner"?

You can use alternatives like "a lavish dinner", "a luxurious dinner", or "an extravagant dinner" depending on the context.

In what kind of context is it appropriate to use "an opulent dinner"?

The phrase is best used to describe formal events, high-end dining experiences, or situations where the meal is particularly extravagant and luxurious. It would be fitting for describing a state banquet, a celebrity wedding, or a historical feast.