call for lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

"call for lunch" is an correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to meet up at a specific time for a meal, usually in the middle of the day. For example, "Let's call for lunch tomorrow at 12:00."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Call for lunch hours.

The New York Times

A call for lunch postponed further talk of diplomacy.

The New Yorker

The steward issued the last call for lunch.

The Washington Post

Not long before Alpine, it was final call for lunch reservations.

The New York Times

We used to look untroubled at the meteorites and caveman carvings, in an erudite way, but now we cock our ear, half expecting a guard to march through the aisles shouting "First call for lunch in the dinosaur ahead".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Until I put out a call for lunch-not-brunch on social media, I had no idea so many people wanted other than Belgian waffles and mimosas during daytime on the weekend.

The Washington Post

"We've had our president, the Chinese prime minister and a bunch of German politicians call in for lunch".

The Guardian - Travel

As we left, Woody turned around and pointed a finger at my daughter: "I'll call you for lunch," he said.

The New York Times

All clinicians and staff were requested to attend the telephone training call, for which lunch was provided; the call included watching components of the training DVD on the call, asking about how aspects of the intervention could be tailored for the practice, and addressing any potential barriers that practice staff foresaw.

BMC Pediatrics

She calls me for lunch.

The Washington Post

On my last day, I called in for lunch at the Living Room.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "call for lunch", ensure the context makes it clear whether you are making a phone call to order lunch, or inviting someone to have lunch.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "call for lunch" always implies a phone call. It can also mean inviting someone to lunch. Clarify the intended meaning to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "call for lunch" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "call for" acts as a phrasal verb meaning to summon or request something, in this case, lunch. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "call for lunch" is a phrase that, according to Ludwig, is grammatically sound and can be used to invite someone to lunch or to order food. While it is considered a correct phrase, Ludwig indicates that it is relatively rare in occurrence. When using this phrase, clarity is key to avoid misinterpretation. If you wish to convey an invitation to lunch you can also say "invite to lunch" or if you wish to convey food delivery request you can say "call for takeout".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

invite to lunch

This alternative replaces "call for" with the more direct "invite to", focusing on the act of extending an invitation.

ask to lunch

Similar to "invite to lunch", this option uses "ask to" which maintains the invitation aspect but with a slightly less formal tone.

suggest lunch

This phrase shifts the focus to proposing the idea of having lunch together, rather than a direct call or invitation.

propose a lunch meeting

This alternative is more formal, suggesting a planned meeting specifically for lunch.

arrange a lunch date

This option highlights the planning and scheduling aspect of having lunch together.

set up a lunch appointment

Similar to "arrange a lunch date", this suggests a more formal and scheduled lunch arrangement.

get together for lunch

This phrase emphasizes the social aspect of meeting for lunch.

have lunch together

A simpler and more direct way of expressing the act of sharing lunch.

meet for midday meal

This substitutes "lunch" with a more descriptive term, "midday meal", making it slightly more formal.

rendezvous for lunch

This alternative uses a more evocative term, "rendezvous", to describe meeting for lunch, adding a touch of intrigue.

FAQs

What does "call for lunch" mean?

"Call for lunch" can mean to either invite someone to have lunch or to place an order for lunch, depending on the context.

How can I use "call for lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "call for lunch" when inviting someone to eat, as in, "I'll "call you for lunch" tomorrow." Or, it can mean to order lunch, as in, "Let's "call for takeout" today".

What's a less ambiguous alternative to "call for lunch"?

To avoid confusion, you can use more specific phrases such as "invite someone to lunch" or "order lunch" depending on the intention.

Is it better to say "invite for lunch" or "call for lunch"?

"Invite for lunch" is generally clearer when you mean to ask someone to join you for a meal. "Call for lunch" can be ambiguous and might be misinterpreted as ordering food. It's best practice to clarify the intention in the context.