during the lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

"during the lunch" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to describe an event or action that happened at some point during the time when people typically have lunch. Example: "I received a call from my boss during the lunch, asking me to come in for a meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

During the lunch break at the Radiology Expo.

University of Chicago

During a recent afternoon, the restaurant had four customers during the lunch hour.

The New York Times

He said he was nervous during the lunch.

The New York Times

Instead he is expected to arrive during the lunch.

The Guardian

Eventually, he summoned her to the staff room during the lunch break.

The New Yorker

A little after one in the afternoon, Chukhlib and Dyomin sat down during the lunch rush.

The New Yorker

The President then expressed the position that was developed during the lunch break.

The New York Times

Farm Service and Risk Management Agencies will provide brief program updates during the lunch break.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

A ray of light during the lunch break, the smell of spring or bread right out of the oven.

Huffington Post

Both schools operate an open gate policy during the lunch break.

BMJ Open

They serve fantastic plats du jour during the lunch break, paying particular attention to fresh products.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during the lunch", ensure the context clearly indicates which lunch period you are referring to. If there's ambiguity, specify further (e.g., "during the company lunch").

Common error

Avoid assuming "during the lunch" means the entire lunch period. It simply indicates that something occurred at some point within that timeframe, not necessarily throughout the whole duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during the lunch" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by specifying the time at which an action occurred. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct. It indicates that an event happened at some point within the lunch period, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

20%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "during the lunch" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that specifies the timing of an event within the lunch period. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's most commonly found in news media and academic contexts. When using the phrase, clarity is key; ensure the specific lunch period is understood. While alternatives like "/s/at+lunchtime" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">at lunchtime" and "/s/over+lunch" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">over lunch" exist, "during the lunch" offers a direct and neutral way to indicate the temporal context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at lunchtime

Replaces the prepositional phrase with a single word indicating the time of lunch.

over lunch

Uses a different preposition to indicate the activity occurring while eating lunch.

at the midday meal

Substitutes "lunch" with a more formal term for the midday meal.

throughout the luncheon

Replaces "lunch" with "luncheon", a more formal word, and uses "throughout" to indicate the duration.

in the course of lunch

Uses a more elaborate phrasing to indicate the time frame within which something occurs.

while having lunch

Changes the structure to a participial phrase, emphasizing the action of eating lunch.

during the noon break

Replaces "lunch" with "noon break", specifying the timing.

amidst the midday repast

Uses more formal and literary terms to describe the lunch period.

during the break for lunch

Adds "for" to emphasize the purpose of the break.

in the middle of lunch

Focuses on the midpoint of the lunch period.

FAQs

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

You can use "during the lunch" to describe when an event or action took place, such as, "I received an important phone call during the lunch." or "The team discussed the new project /s/over+lunch" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">over lunch.

What's the difference between "during the lunch" and "at lunch"?

"During the lunch" refers to an unspecified time within the lunch period, whereas "at lunch" specifies a particular point or activity during the lunch break. The phrase "/s/at+lunch" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">at lunch is commonly used to tell the time or refer to an activity happening at the same time when lunch is eaten.

What can I say instead of "during the lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "/s/at+lunchtime" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">at lunchtime", "/s/over+lunch" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">over lunch", or "/s/at+the+midday+meal" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">at the midday meal depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it correct to say "during lunch time" instead of "during the lunch"?

While "during lunch time" is understandable, "during the lunch" is more grammatically standard. It is better to say "/s/at+lunchtime" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">at lunchtime" if you prefer an alternative to "during the lunch".