breaking for lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breaking for lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a pause in work or an activity to have lunch. Example: "We will be breaking for lunch at noon, so please make sure to wrap up your tasks before then."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

He works an ordinary office day, rarely breaking for lunch.

The Guardian - Books

Classes will meet in the morning from 8 30 to noon before breaking for lunch.

Cornell University

pic.twitter.com/awhKlqkrEw February 28 , 2014They are now breaking for lunch.

The Guardian

Before breaking for lunch, Andres told Judge Ellis that he anticipates questioning Gates for about another hour.

The Washington Post

My favorite image is Morales's picture of what looks to be migrant workers breaking for lunch in a field, gulping down water and listening to music.

The New York Times - Books

After breaking for lunch and traveling to the next site, we had a similar itinerary at the second farm on the tour.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

I break for lunch.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Congress has broken for lunch.

The Guardian - Sport

Mortified, I broke for lunch.

The New York Times

The cryonicists break for lunch.

The Guardian

Then everyone broke for lunch.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "breaking for lunch" over more ambiguous phrases to prevent confusion about the purpose and duration of the pause.

Common error

Avoid using "breaking for lunch" to suggest a complete cessation of activities. Instead, emphasize the temporary nature of the break with phrases like "pausing briefly" to clarify that activities will resume.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breaking for lunch" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a temporary cessation of an activity for the purpose of consuming lunch. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "breaking for lunch" is a common phrase used to indicate a temporary pause in activities for a midday meal. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts like News & Media, Academia and Formal & Business settings. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to use it accurately to avoid misinterpretations about the duration of the pause. Related phrases like "taking a lunch break" or "pausing for lunch" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. As Ludwig demonstrates, understanding the nuances of such phrases enhances clarity and effectiveness in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking a lunch break

More explicit about the nature of the pause and often used in formal settings.

pausing for lunch

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the act of momentarily stopping an activity.

stopping to eat lunch

Highlights the action of halting activity specifically to consume lunch.

lunch intermission

More formal term suggesting a scheduled break in the middle of an activity.

taking time out for lunch

Emphasizes dedicating a portion of time specifically for lunch.

halting work for lunch

Focuses on the cessation of work-related activities for the purpose of lunch.

recessing for lunch

Often used in legal or formal contexts, indicating a temporary adjournment.

suspending activities for lunch

A more formal way of saying that activities are being temporarily stopped.

downing tools for lunch

Idiomatic expression, implying a temporary stop of work specifically, mostly in manual labor contexts.

taking a midday respite

Elevated language, implying lunch is more of a restorative rest period.

FAQs

What does "breaking for lunch" mean?

The phrase "breaking for lunch" means to pause or interrupt an activity, typically work or a meeting, to have lunch.

Is it more formal to say "taking a lunch break" or "breaking for lunch"?

Generally, "taking a lunch break" is considered slightly more formal than "breaking for lunch". Both are acceptable, but the former might be preferred in professional settings.

What can I say instead of "breaking for lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "pausing for lunch", "taking time out for lunch", or "recessing for lunch" depending on the context.

How do I use "breaking for lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "breaking for lunch" like this: "The meeting will be "breaking for lunch" at 12:30 PM and will resume at 1:30 PM."