close to lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a time period that is nearing the time of lunch, or to indicate that something is happening just before or around the time of lunch. Example: "I'm getting hungry, it's close to lunch time." In this sentence, "close to lunch" is used to indicate that the speaker is starting to feel hungry because it is almost time for lunch.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

23rd over: South Africa second innings: 2-0 Bicknell to Graeme Smith - two to get off the mark and then Bicknell produces a couple of corkers to rattle an edgy Smith who looks uncomfortable at the crease this close to lunch.

The Guardian - Sport

I can't believe it's actually got this close to lunch after that.

BBC

It was close to lunch.

Vice

It was getting close to lunch time and the countdown had begun for The Battle of Guernica's Best Authentic Spanish Cusine.

Huffington Post

Now, maybe it was too close to lunch or maybe we've all been secretly harboring fantasies of making subs as big as the ones Shaggy used to make in Scooby Doo but when we heard about an Iranian attempt on "the worlds biggest sandwich" title we all got interested.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Although it is much closer to lunch time than breakfast time, he is clearly fresh from bed. "Did you go out last night?" I say.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Urbanista Ur ban is ta / (ur ban nes ta / n. / A neologism for someone who is allergic to the countryside and indissolubly fused to the city, e.g., "She's such an incorrigible urbanista that she even sunbathes on the Seine so she can be closer to lunch at Le Voltaire". Splash Splash / (splash) / vt.

The New York Times

Actually, the main reason we're posting about this is because its inching closer to lunch time and we haven't even had our first meal yet.

TechCrunch

More and more deals will be popping up so check back (especially closer to lunch and again at happy hour on Tax Day).

Forbes

More deals will be popping up so check back (especially closer to lunch and again at happy hour on Tax Day).

Forbes

As Han explains, on mobile, EAT Club could ping users who didn't place an order that morning, allowing them to place their order later in the day – closer to lunch than what EAT Club is capable of now.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to lunch" to indicate a specific timeframe that is immediately before or around the usual lunchtime, providing context to actions or states of being. For instance: "The meeting adjourned as it was getting "close to lunch".

Common error

Avoid using "close to lunch" when a more precise time is available or necessary. Instead of saying, "Let's meet close to lunch", specify "Let's meet at 11:30 AM" to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to lunch" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a temporal relationship. It specifies when an action occurs in relation to lunchtime, providing a context for the timing. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to lunch" is a grammatically sound and usable expression employed to signify a time nearing lunchtime. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. It serves as an adverbial phrase to provide a temporal reference, commonly found in news, media and academic contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to use precise times when greater clarity is needed. Related phrases include "nearing lunchtime" and "almost lunchtime", offering similar meanings with slight variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearing lunchtime

Replaces the prepositional phrase with a single word implying the same time proximity.

almost lunchtime

Specifies the proximity to lunchtime using "almost".

approaching lunchtime

Uses "approaching" to convey the idea of getting closer to lunch.

lunchtime is near

Rearranges the sentence structure to emphasize the nearness of lunchtime.

drawing near to lunch

Uses a more figurative expression.

getting close to noon

Substitutes "lunch" with "noon" to indicate midday.

in proximity to lunchtime

Uses a more formal tone to indicate closeness to lunch.

on the verge of lunch

Uses a more figurative expression indicating the imminence of lunchtime.

about to have lunch

Focuses on the action of eating rather than the time itself.

lunch is imminent

Highlights the impending nature of lunchtime in a formal tone.

FAQs

What does "close to lunch" mean?

The phrase "close to lunch" indicates that it is almost the time when people typically have lunch. It suggests that an event or action is happening just before or around midday.

How can I use "close to lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "close to lunch" to describe when an event occurs. For example: "The presentation concluded as it was getting "close to lunch".

What are some alternatives to saying "close to lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "nearing lunchtime", "almost lunchtime", or "approaching lunchtime" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "closer to lunch" instead of "close to lunch"?

Both "close to lunch" and "closer to lunch" are grammatically correct, but "closer to lunch" implies a comparative sense, suggesting something is moving nearer to lunchtime over time.