dinner on its

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dinner on its" is not correct and appears to be incomplete in written English.
It may be intended to refer to something related to dinner, but without additional context, it does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I left dinner on its plate while I answered the phone."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Paired with a shallow bowl of tomato sauce decorated with a sprig of wild oregano, it makes for a lively dinner on its own.

The New York Times - Food

It's a light but complete dinner on its own.

The New York Times

She used to fish for dinner on its banks, but now she can't bear to look at it.

The Guardian

Rose Prince puts it perfectly in The New English Kitchen when she says that "an enormous bowl... on the knee – a big cup of jasmine tea beside – makes an immaculate dinner on its own".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There's a decked beach and barbecue in July and August, plus you can take breakfast, lunch and dinner on its terrace and listen to dance DJs on weekends.

BBC

Sprinkle with toasted hazelnuts and this salad works well as a simple dinner on its own, served with a cool glass of wine, or a substantial side.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The dinner delivered on its once-in-a-lifetime promise.

The New York Times - Arts

Once you have put the meat in the oven, the work is done and dinner is on its way!

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It had a French restaurant called Les Tournebroches, where you could actually see your dinner spinning on its spit, and a Hungarian restaurant where you could cut your own piece off a giant Hungarian sausage tree.

The New Yorker

Given that it sails mostly in French Polynesia, Paul Gauguin Cruises wisely offers several outdoor dinner venues on its 332-passenger ship.

Los Angeles Times

That's when ESPN will hold a private dinner for its broadcasters on the rooftop of a Rio Marriott.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to describe the location or readiness of "dinner", consider using more explicit phrases such as "dinner is on the table" or "dinner is ready" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the truncated phrase "dinner on its" without completing the possessive. For example, instead of "dinner on its...", specify "dinner on its plate" or "dinner on its way" for better grammatical structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dinner on its" functions as an incomplete phrase. It requires additional words to form a grammatically correct sentence, typically acting as a fragment of a prepositional phrase or a possessive construction. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase alone does not convey a clear meaning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dinner on its" is grammatically incomplete and requires additional words to be meaningful. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase, on its own, lacks clarity. While examples exist primarily in news and media contexts, the phrase is not considered standard English. For improved clarity, consider using alternative phrases such as "dinner is ready" or specifying the location or state of the dinner with a completed phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dinner is on the table

Specifies the location of the dinner, making it clear where it is.

dinner is ready

Emphasizes the completion and readiness of the meal.

dinner is served

Focuses on the action of serving dinner, rather than the state or location of the dinner.

dinner is prepared

Emphasizes that the dinner has been prepared.

dinner is being eaten

Shifts focus to the consumption of the meal.

the dinner is happening

Focuses on the action of eating dinner, rather than the state or location of the dinner.

dinner is in progress

Highlights that the dinner is already happening.

dinner is planned

Highlights the aspect of planning the meal.

dinner is scheduled

Focuses on the schedule of the dinner, rather than the state or location of the dinner.

dinner will take place

Emphasizes the occurrence of the dinner event.

FAQs

How to use "dinner on its" in a sentence?

The phrase "dinner on its" is typically incomplete. You might complete it as "dinner on its way", meaning dinner is progressing to be ready. Example: After a long day, I'm glad dinner is on its way. Alternatively, if referring to a plate you could say: The cat left some dinner on its plate.

What can I say instead of "dinner on its"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "dinner is ready" if the meal is prepared, or "dinner is on the table" if the meal is served.

Which is correct, "dinner on its" or "dinner is on its"?

Neither phrase is grammatically complete by itself. You need to finish the phrase. A correct, although unusual, sentence would be: "The dog left half of his dinner on its bed."

What's the difference between "dinner is served" and "dinner on its"?

"Dinner is served" indicates that the meal is ready to be eaten. "Dinner on its" is incomplete and requires additional context. For example, completing the sentence could be "Dinner on its way" which implies the meal is progressing to being ready.