how about dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how about dinner" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to make a suggestion about going out to dinner, for example: "I'm feeling hungry. How about dinner?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

How about dinner at the friend's apartment?

The New Yorker

"How about dinner?" "When are you through here?" "At four".

The New Yorker

IF MEMORY SERVES, sometime around March 1999 a caller to The Daily News introduced herself as Nora Ephron, and how about dinner?

The New York Times

How about dinner?

BBC

6) Underscore positive feedback with something tangible: Beyond salary/bonus/equity, think about "rewarding" employees for truly superior performance -- How about dinner on the company as a spot award?

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Researchers are discovering that the pancreas helps mediate much of the appetite-related cross talk between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract, the streams of chemical signals that say, I'm starving down here, how about some dinner, or, enough already, step away from that dessert cart and no one will be hurt.

The New York Times

* * * DANA: How about getting dinner, just you and me?

The New Yorker

Instead, how about a dinner party for 8 or 10 at home, cooked by an accomplished (and maybe even famous) chef?

The New York Times

How about turkey dinner – at the Wynn, no less – for just $21? La Cave-Wine and Food Hideaway, one of the luxury resort's casual dining restaurants, is certain to draw crowds with its gourmet turkey dinner.

Los Angeles Times

How about a candlelit dinner at (insert favorite splurgey restaurant) to commemorate who-knows-what?

Huffington Post

After a series of no's, you say, "...then how about just a dinner and a movie?" They'll see you "backed down" (or so they think!) and be more likely to cave.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "how about dinner" in writing, be sure the context makes it clear you are making a suggestion, not asking a question about dinner in general.

Common error

While versatile, using "how about dinner" repeatedly in formal emails or business proposals can sound too casual. Opt for more professional alternatives like "I propose we discuss this further over dinner" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "how about dinner" is to serve as a suggestion or proposal. It's a phrase used to invite someone to have dinner. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how about dinner" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig, primarily functioning as a polite and casual suggestion to have dinner. It finds frequent usage in news and media, while also being applicable in business and wiki contexts. Though generally informal, its adaptability makes it useful across varied settings. For more formal scenarios, consider alternative phrases like "I propose we discuss this further over dinner." Remember to use this phrase when you want to connect with someone over a meal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fancy dinner?

More concise and informal way to suggest dinner.

Dinner sound good?

Turns the suggestion into a question seeking confirmation.

Shall we get dinner?

Suggests going to get dinner, implying eating out.

What about supper?

Uses a different term for a similar meal, mostly regional.

Care for some dinner?

More polite and formal way to propose dinner.

Are you up for dinner?

Asks about someone's willingness to have dinner.

Dinner, perhaps?

More tentative and indirect way of suggesting dinner.

What are your dinner plans?

Inquires about existing plans to gauge availability.

Eating out tonight?

Suggests eating out and implies having dinner.

Should we dine out?

Proposes dining out specifically.

FAQs

How can I use "how about dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "how about dinner" to make a suggestion, like "I'm free tonight, "how about dinner" at that new Italian place?"

What are some alternatives to "how about dinner"?

Consider using alternatives such as "fancy dinner?", "dinner sound good?", or "care for some dinner?" depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "how about dinner" suitable for formal communication?

While generally acceptable, "how about dinner" is more suited for casual or informal settings. In formal contexts, consider using more professional alternatives like "I propose we discuss this further over dinner".

What's the difference between "how about dinner" and "what about dinner"?

"How about dinner" is a direct suggestion, while "what about dinner" can be a more open-ended question or a way to introduce the topic of dinner without a specific suggestion. The former prompts action, the latter opens a discussion.