it was lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific time when lunch occurred or to indicate that something happened during lunch. Example: "I couldn't join the meeting because it was lunch, and I had already made plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

It was lunch time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And then it was lunch time.

The New York Times - Travel

Things got so bad that "if a kid dropped something, it was lunch", said one resident.

The Economist

But it was lunch at Olives that somehow crystallized the Todd English philosophy for me.

The New York Times - Food

11.47pm GMT LUNCH 11.47pm GMT Did I say it was lunch?

The Guardian - Sport

It was lunch hour, and the people in the long line were becoming increasingly impatient as the line inched forward.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

It was lunch-pail time, with constant bumping and bruising and bodies on the floor.

The New York Times - Sports

He said that it was lunch-time and that if they went out then, they would have to stop someplace for lunch, whereas if they had lunch sent up to the room, they might save time.

The New Yorker

ROBERT: It is lunch.

The New Yorker

"You're like, 'Oh, it's lunch break.

The New York Times

1pm Finally it's lunch.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was lunch" to set the scene or provide context for an event that occurred during lunchtime. For example: "It was lunch when the phone rang."

Common error

Avoid using "it was lunch time" if the context already implies a specific time. "It was lunch, and everyone was hungry" is slightly more concise than "It was lunch time, and everyone was hungry."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was lunch" functions as a statement of time. It indicates that a certain point in time corresponded with the period typically designated for lunch. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was lunch" is a grammatically correct and common way to establish the timing of an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for use in written English. Although simple, the expression is generally neutral and most frequently encountered in news and media sources to provide temporal context. While variations exist, like "it was time for lunch", it is a good practice to avoid redundancy, and it is key to choose the phrase that best fits the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was time for lunch

Emphasizes the scheduled aspect of lunchtime.

lunchtime had come

Highlights the arrival of lunchtime using a slightly more formal tone.

the lunch break began

Highlights the beginning of a break specifically for lunch.

lunch had arrived

Focuses on the arrival or beginning of lunch, rather than simply stating it was lunch.

lunch was underway

Emphasizes that lunch was already in progress.

they broke for lunch

Describes the action of interrupting something to have lunch.

it was midday

A shorter and more direct way of indicating it was the middle of the day, implying it's time for lunch.

they were having lunch

Shifts the focus to the activity of eating lunch rather than the time itself.

the noon hour arrived

Replaces "lunch" with "noon hour", focusing on the specific time of day.

the midday meal occurred

Substitutes "lunch" with "midday meal" using more formal language.

FAQs

How can I use "it was lunch" in a sentence?

Use "it was lunch" to indicate that a particular event occurred during the time that lunch was typically eaten. For example: "It was lunch when I received the call."

What's a more descriptive alternative to "it was lunch"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "lunchtime had arrived", "it was time for lunch", or "lunch was underway".

Is there a difference between saying "it was lunch" and "it was lunchtime"?

While both phrases are acceptable, "it was lunch" is slightly more concise. "It was lunchtime" emphasizes that it was specifically the designated time for lunch.

Could I say "it was a lunch" instead of "it was lunch"?

No, "it was a lunch" is not grammatically correct in this context. The phrase "it was lunch" refers to the time of day, not a specific instance of eating lunch.