discussion over lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discussion over lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a conversation or exchange of ideas that takes place during a lunch meeting or meal. Example: "We had a productive discussion over lunch about the upcoming project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Whether they were allowed to do that was another matter, the subject of occasional heated discussion over lunch.

The Guardian - Opinion

Andrew White, one of the partners, revealed: "This race featured in a half-hearted discussion over lunch at Chester, but even until last Friday we didn't know for sure what we were going to do".

Independent

In a 90-minute discussion over lunch with editors and reporters of The New York Times, Mr. Racicot also disputed the Democrats' argument that in focusing intently on Iraq, President Bush had neglected the economy.

The New York Times

Have a discussion over lunch or dinner about the amount you would all like to give and sacrifice one element of your trip to make that donation.

Forbes

For example, if a teammate struggled with his last demo, ask if he wants to shadow your next couple of them and have a discussion over lunch about what went well on those calls and what didn't, so you can help him improve his game.

Forbes

Their busy summer will see them touring through the US, Belgium, France, England, and the Czech Republic, and during our in-depth discussion over lunch, we touched on their longtime connection to Burning Man, their totally sick new stage show, and the endless love they have for their fans.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

This way of doing business has become awkward for the agency in the last few months, as stories have surfaced about inappropriate emails, vacation-home conversations over cocktails, and various discussions over lunch – all involving substantive issues in pending proceedings.

University of California, Berkeley

The admission of defeat came from Senate leader Mitch McConnell and the sponsors of the bill after party discussions over lunch on Capitol Hill left them in no doubt their slim majority could not survive a revolt.

The Guardian

Published by the company that would become DC Comics, the Batman stories were an immediate hit and pushed the men hard: they would work in Mr. Kane's Bronx apartment and have long discussions over lunch or dinner to come up with content.

The New York Times - Books

In order to get to know the postdoctoral scholars and their concerns better, I decided to hold weekly informal roundtable discussions over lunch with five or six postdoctoral fellows.

Science Magazine

Holidays were discussed over lunch.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "discussion over lunch" to indicate an informal yet potentially productive conversation, often in a professional or academic context. It suggests a relaxed setting where ideas can be exchanged.

Common error

While acceptable in many settings, avoid using "discussion over lunch" in highly formal documents or reports. Opt for phrases like "a meeting during the lunch hour" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discussion over lunch" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by specifying the time and setting of a discussion. It adds context by indicating that the discussion occurred during a meal, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "discussion over lunch" is a prepositional phrase that denotes a conversation or exchange of ideas happening during a lunchtime meal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general suitability for various contexts, predominantly in news, media, and academic settings. While useful for conveying informal yet productive conversations, remember that it is advised against overusing it in very formal documentation in favour of its alternatives. Its frequency is classified as uncommon. Alternatives such as "lunchtime conversation" or "conversation at lunchtime" may be more appropriate depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over lunch conversation

Swaps "discussion" with "conversation" keeping the prepositional phrase.

conversation at lunchtime

Similar meaning, but slightly alters the structure by using "at lunchtime".

lunchtime conversation

Focuses on the time of day the conversation occurs.

midday meal discussion

Replaces "lunch" with a more formal expression and emphasizes the meal setting.

mealtime dialogue

Uses "mealtime" to specify the time and "dialogue" instead of "discussion".

chat during lunch

Uses a more informal term "chat" instead of "discussion".

talk while having lunch

Emphasizes the simultaneous action of talking and eating.

lunch meeting

Implies a more structured and purposeful conversation during lunch.

informal lunch discourse

Substitutes "discussion" with a more academic term "discourse" and adds "informal".

a word over lunch

Implies a brief and casual conversation.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "discussion over lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "lunchtime conversation", "conversation at lunchtime", or "talk while having lunch" depending on the context.

Is "discussion over lunch" formal or informal?

The phrase "discussion over lunch" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. While usable in many professional contexts, it may be too casual for very formal writing. Consider /s/formal+alternatives if necessary.

How do I use "discussion over lunch" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a meeting or conversation that occurs during lunch. For example: "We had a productive "discussion over lunch" about the new marketing strategy."

What is the difference between "discussion over lunch" and "lunch meeting"?

"Discussion over lunch" implies a conversation that may or may not be pre-planned or formal, while "lunch meeting" usually suggests a scheduled and purposeful meeting taking place during lunchtime.