during lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

"during lunch" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the time period when people typically break for lunch. For example, "We will discuss the project during lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm eating during lunch.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It was during lunch.

The New Yorker

(I'm assuming they're paid during lunch hours).

The New York Times

Whatever he did during lunch worked.

The Guardian - Sport

Norman reads the penal code during lunch.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It keeps them busy during lunch hour.

The New York Times

More precisely, he was smoking during lunch.

The New York Times

It will begin sometime during lunch today.

The New York Times

Seventh graders traded scores during lunch periods.

The New York Times

Biff Forbush holds their attention during lunch.

Yale University

In addition, we collected additional data from a university canteen crowded during lunch time.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "during lunch" to clearly indicate that an event or activity happens within the timeframe of a lunch break. For example, "The meeting will be held during lunch to accommodate everyone's schedules."

Common error

Avoid using "during lunch" when you actually mean a specific activity that occurred because of lunch, like a conversation or a meeting. Instead of "During lunch, we talked about the new project", consider "Over lunch, we discussed the new project" or "We talked about the new project at lunch".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during lunch" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate when something occurs. It specifies the temporal context, aligning with the Ludwig AI analysis that it's a correct and usable phrase. The examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in defining the timing of various activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

31%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "during lunch" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to specify when an action or event takes place, as Ludwig AI confirms. It enjoys widespread usage across various contexts, including News & Media, Wiki, and Academia. While versatile, it's crucial to differentiate its use from phrases like "over lunch", which implies a connection between the activity and the act of eating. Ludwig's examples showcase its function in setting a temporal reference, making it clear that something happened within the lunch period. Alternatives like "at lunchtime" or "while having lunch" offer subtle nuances depending on the intended emphasis. By understanding its grammatical function and communicative purpose, writers can effectively employ "during lunch" to convey precise temporal information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at lunchtime

Focuses on the specific time designated for lunch.

over lunch

Emphasizes the activity of having lunch while something else occurs.

while having lunch

Highlights the simultaneous occurrence of an action and the lunch period.

during the midday break

Replaces "lunch" with a more descriptive term for the break period.

in the course of lunch

A more formal way of saying "during lunch".

at the noon recess

Specifically refers to a break at noon, often used in school contexts.

throughout the lunch period

Emphasizes the entire duration of the lunch break.

while at lunch

A simpler phrasing indicating an action occurring at the same time as lunch.

in the middle of lunch

Highlights that something happens in the central part of the lunch period.

at midday

A more general term referring to the middle of the day, when lunch typically occurs.

FAQs

How can I use "during lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "during lunch" to specify when an event or action takes place. For instance, "I like to read "during lunch" breaks" or "The announcement will be made "during lunch" today".

What are some alternatives to saying "during lunch"?

Alternatives to "during lunch" include "at lunchtime", "over lunch", or "while having lunch", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "during lunch time"?

While understandable, "during lunch" is generally preferred over "during lunch time". The phrase "lunch" already implies a time period, making "time" somewhat redundant.

What is the difference between "during lunch" and "over lunch"?

"During lunch" specifies the timeframe when something happens, while "over lunch" implies that the event is connected with the act of eating lunch. For example, you might say "I read a book "during lunch"", but "We discussed the contract "over lunch"".