free for dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "free for dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express someone's availability to have dinner with someone else. Example: "Are you free for dinner tomorrow? I would love to catch up with you over a meal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Free for dinner in Washington?

The New York Times

Are you free for dinner next Saturday?

The New York Times

I asked him if he was free for dinner.

The New Yorker

Anyone at the Justice Department free for dinner?

The New York Times

He asked if she was free for dinner the next day.

The New Yorker

"One night, a couple of weeks later, I asked if she was free for dinner.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Finding a free table for dinner can be tricky at party conferences, but sometimes you get lucky.

The Guardian - Books

Free-for-all dinners would certainly have been a nice thing to have had in the good times, especially as they may soothe the stigma felt by poorer children who have always lunched on the state.

The Guardian - Opinion

Inasmuch as there is also such a thing as Girl Snacks, and more generally, Girl Food, there is no such thing as a girl without issues, from little random guilts to life-consuming, life-ending obsessions about eating, which is just what it is, and not even something that I have the energy for right now because I had walnuts, a Cheesestring, and sugar-free licorice for dinner.

Vice

On the second day at 8 00 a.m., they underwent a 6-h mixed meal challenge test (MMCT) using 240 mL chocolate Boost Plus (Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, Florham Park, NJ; 45 g carbohydrates, 14 g protein, 360 calories/240 mL), followed by 240 mL vegetable broth for lunch and 240 mL sugar-free gelatin for dinner.

Diabetes Care

The children could play as much basketball as they wanted, they were free to stay for dinner or use the computers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking if someone is "free for dinner", consider specifying a date and time to make your invitation clearer.

Common error

Don't assume someone is "free for dinner" just because they haven't mentioned other plans. Always explicitly ask to confirm their availability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "free for dinner" functions as an inquiry about someone's availability. It's typically used to initiate a dinner invitation or to check if someone has existing commitments that would prevent them from attending a dinner. Ludwig AI confirms its usage is common in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "free for dinner" is a common and grammatically correct way to ask about someone's availability for a dinner engagement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's prevalent in News & Media, Wiki, and slightly less so in formal business contexts. While seemingly straightforward, it's best to specify a date and time for clarity and avoid assumptions about someone's schedule. Consider alternatives like "available for dinner" for similar meaning, and be mindful of the register when using the phrase. Key authoritative sources using the phrase include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

available for dinner

Focuses on availability rather than freedom from other commitments.

able to have dinner

Emphasizes the capability to participate in a dinner engagement.

dinner plans open

Highlights that there are no existing dinner arrangements.

uncommitted for dinner

Underscores the lack of prior commitments for the evening meal.

nothing planned for dinner

Specifies the absence of any scheduled dinner activity.

dinner schedule clear

Suggests that the timetable for dinner is currently empty.

dinner time available

Highlights the possibility of scheduling something during dinner hours.

open to dinner invitations

Indicates a willingness to accept a proposal for dinner.

available for evening meal

Uses a more formal term ('evening meal') to indicate dinner availability.

unoccupied during dinner

Focuses on the lack of activity or engagement during dinner time.

FAQs

How do I politely ask if someone is "free for dinner"?

You could say, "Are you free for dinner this week?", or "Would you be available for dinner sometime soon?"

What's a more formal way to ask if someone is "free for dinner"?

In a formal setting, you might ask, "Would you be available for an evening meal?" or "Are you at liberty to join me for dinner?"

What does it mean when someone asks if I'm "free for dinner"?

It usually means they're inviting you to have dinner with them and want to know if you're available at a specific time, or generally open to scheduling a dinner.

What can I say instead of asking someone if they are "free for dinner"?

You can use alternatives like "available for dinner" or "able to have dinner" depending on the context.