dinner break

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dinner break" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a scheduled period of time during which people take a break from work or other activities to have dinner. Example: "After working for several hours, the employees were relieved to finally have their dinner break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dinner break.

The New York Times - Magazine

Neither the owners nor the players took a dinner break.

The New York Times - Sports

The Senate committee heads to a dinner break.

The Guardian

The cast and crew disperse for their dinner break.

The New York Times

Staged in two parts with a dinner break in between, it ran about five hours.

The New York Times

It is usually performed with a short dinner break, as will be the case on Saturday.

The New York Times - Arts

After a dinner break, Sofie, Jacki, and Eamon came back to wait with me.

The New Yorker

The show lasts for a Wagnerian eight hours, including two short intermissions and a dinner break.

The New Yorker

The marathon press performance began at 1pm and, after a dinner break, concluded at 10pm.

Independent

10 30 | | Dinner Break Time for a subsidized meal at the canteen.

The New York Times

One struggled with her computer, then took an hourlong dinner break.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dinner break" to clearly indicate a scheduled or expected pause for the evening meal during a longer activity or work period.

Common error

Avoid using "dinner break" when referring to a midday meal pause; use "lunch break" instead to maintain clarity about the time of day.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dinner break" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object within a sentence. It designates a specific period allocated for eating dinner, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dinner break" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase referring to a scheduled pause for eating dinner. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. While alternatives like ""supper break"" exist, "dinner break" is the most common and neutrally formal choice. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a break specifically for the evening meal to avoid confusion with other meal breaks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dinnertime break

Adds emphasis to the timing of the break, explicitly mentioning dinnertime.

supper break

Uses an alternative term for dinner ("supper"), maintaining the same meaning.

lunch break

Refers to a break for lunch, differing in the specific meal being consumed.

dinner intermission

Implies a structured pause, like in a performance, for dinner.

evening break

A more general term for a pause in the evening, without specifying the purpose.

food break

Emphasizes the consumption of food but doesn't specify the time of day.

meal break

A generic term for any break taken for the purpose of eating a meal.

restaurant break

Specifies the location where the break might be taken, at a restaurant.

luncheon break

Similar to "lunch break", but refers to a more formal lunch.

repast break

Replaces "meal" with the more formal "repast," indicating a meal or the food eaten or provided for a meal.

FAQs

How can I use "dinner break" in a sentence?

You can use "dinner break" to describe a scheduled pause during an event or workday, such as: "The play will include a thirty-minute "dinner intermission"" or "The staff is entitled to a one-hour "dinner break"."

What are some alternatives to "dinner break"?

Alternatives include "supper break", "meal break", or simply "time for dinner," depending on the context.

Is "dinner break" formal or informal?

"Dinner break" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings. The formality depends more on the surrounding context.

Is it appropriate to use "dinner break" when referring to a short rest during an event?

Yes, "dinner break" is appropriate when referring to a short pause for dinner during an event, particularly if food is involved. If it's a longer pause, consider ""dinner intermission"".