by breakfast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by breakfast" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a deadline or a time frame by which something should be completed, specifically before or during breakfast time. Example: "I need to finish this report by breakfast so I can present it to the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

By breakfast, all the cars were gone.

The New York Times

By breakfast I mean a doughnut at Dough.

The New York Times

By breakfast time, Mr. Welch had had enough.

The New York Times

That was clear by breakfast time on 8 May.

The Guardian - Opinion

The business motive for proselytizing by breakfast cereal was established.

The Guardian - Business

Las Vegas is a city built by breakfast specials.

The New Yorker

Early-morning balloon rides followed by breakfast anyone?

The Guardian - Travel

By breakfast, news of their deaths was causing panic.

The New York Times - Magazine

7am: Rose and took a short walk, followed by breakfast.

The Guardian

They did not yet suspect that one could be seduced by breakfast.

The New York Times - Books

Wear your style Golightly with this eccentric chaise inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly indicates what constitutes "breakfast" to avoid ambiguity, especially in international contexts where breakfast habits may differ.

Common error

Avoid using "by breakfast" when a more specific time is needed. For example, if something needs to be done by 7:00 AM, state the time directly rather than relying on the relative term "by breakfast".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by breakfast" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying a deadline or timeframe. It modifies a verb by indicating when an action needs to be completed. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by breakfast" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to specify a deadline or timeframe before or during breakfast. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread use. Predominantly found in News & Media, and used in Science domains, the phrase serves to set a temporal boundary for task completion. To avoid ambiguity, it's crucial to ensure the context clarifies what "breakfast" entails. Alternatives like "before breakfast" or "at breakfast time" can be used for slight variations in emphasis. Remember to use more specific timing if needed instead of relying on the relative term "by breakfast".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before breakfast

Specifies an action must occur prior to the meal.

no later than breakfast

Emphasizes the deadline aspect of completing something.

at breakfast time

Highlights the specific time during the morning meal.

prior to the morning meal

A more formal and descriptive way of indicating the same timeframe.

in the early morning

Focuses on the general timeframe without directly mentioning breakfast.

before the start of the day

Emphasizes the beginning of daily activities.

first thing in the morning

Indicates the action should be completed immediately after waking.

upon waking

Highlights the very start of the day.

with the sunrise

Highlights the very start of the day.

at the crack of dawn

Indicates something happening very early in the morning.

FAQs

How can I use "by breakfast" in a sentence?

You can use "by breakfast" to indicate a deadline or timeframe, such as: "I need to finish this report "by breakfast" so I can present it to the team."

What is a more formal alternative to "by breakfast"?

A more formal alternative would be "prior to the morning meal" or "before the start of the day", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "by breakfast time" instead of "by breakfast"?

Yes, "at breakfast time" is a correct alternative and can sometimes add emphasis to the timing.

What does "by breakfast" imply about the urgency of a task?

It implies that the task needs to be completed relatively early in the day, before or during the time when people typically have breakfast.