broken for lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broken for lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to show that someone is taking a break for lunch, either by themselves or with other people. For example, "We're broken for lunch, meeting back in an hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

1.02pm: The inquiry has broken for lunch.

The Guardian

The shareholder's conference has broken for lunch.

The New York Times

1.07pm GMT The hearing has now broken for lunch.

The Guardian

Back at the rehearsal room, work has broken for lunch.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They hadn't even broken for lunch, and already the light was waning.

The New Yorker

1.03pm: The inquiry has broken for lunch and will resume at 2pm.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

I break for lunch.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

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

And then they broke for lunch.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "broken for lunch" to indicate a temporary halt in an activity or meeting for a midday meal. It's commonly used in live reporting or scheduling updates.

Common error

Avoid using "broken for lunch" to describe a personal lunch plan. This phrase is better suited for describing group or scheduled breaks. Instead of saying "I'm broken for lunch", use "I'm taking a lunch break".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broken for lunch" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating a temporary cessation of activities, typically in a meeting, inquiry, or other scheduled event, to allow participants to have lunch. As Ludwig AI points out, this usage is considered correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "broken for lunch" is a common idiomatic expression used to indicate a temporary pause in an activity, such as a meeting or inquiry, for a midday meal. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, often in live reporting to update audiences on scheduled breaks. While the register is generally neutral, it's important to use this phrase when describing scheduled group breaks rather than personal lunch plans. Remember to consider alternatives such as "taking a lunch break" or "stopping for lunch" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a lunch break

Describes the state of currently being in the middle of taking a lunch break.

taking a lunch break

Focuses on the action of taking a break specifically for lunch.

stopping for lunch

Highlights the act of ceasing activity to eat lunch.

pausing for lunch

Similar to 'stopping', but suggests a more temporary interruption.

having a lunch recess

Emphasizes a period of rest or interruption for lunch.

taking time out for lunch

Highlights the allocation of time specifically for lunch.

interrupting work for lunch

Explicitly mentions the interruption of work for the purpose of lunch.

breaking to eat

Simply states that a break is being taken for the purpose of eating.

suspending activities for lunch

More formal, indicating a temporary halt to ongoing tasks.

recessing for lunch

Implies a formal or scheduled break, like in a meeting or court session.

FAQs

How to use "broken for lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "broken for lunch" to indicate a temporary halt in an activity or meeting for a midday meal. For example, "The inquiry has "broken for lunch" and will resume at 2pm".

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

You can use alternatives like "taking a lunch break", "stopping for lunch", or "pausing for lunch" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "break for lunch" or "broken for lunch"?

"Break for lunch" is the infinitive form, while "broken for lunch" is used to indicate that a break is currently in progress. For example, "Let's break for lunch" vs. "We are now "broken for lunch"".

Is "broken for lunch" formal or informal?

"Broken for lunch" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both professional and informal contexts when describing scheduled breaks. However, alternatives like "suspending activities for lunch" may be more appropriate in formal settings.