meet over dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

"meet over dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when suggesting to meet with someone for a meal. For example: "Let's meet over dinner to discuss our project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But Mr. Trump has signaled a new willingness to make a deal with Mr. Xi, a leader he has treated solicitously and will meet over dinner on Saturday in Buenos Aires, after a summit meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 industrialized nations.

The New York Times

Should we meet over dinner and get to know each other, or get right down to business?

Harvard University

Some of our culinary fumblings are questionable, others are just the inevitable muddling that happens when two cultures meet over dinner.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Was there anyone who was anyone in the world of high politics, arts and literature whom Spender, charming, gentle and urbane from first to last, did not meet over dinner?This new edition of his work reprints the seven books of poems that Spender published during his lifetime, and adds some unpublished work for good measure.

The Economist

On holidays and long weekends, he and his wife, Lore, would sometimes drive from Pennsylvania to see their son and his family in New York, and it was on one of these visits that David arranged for us to meet over dinner.

The New Yorker

Trump and Xi are set to meet over dinner after the G-20 concludes Saturday.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

We met over dinner after the first two or three novels had appeared in English.

The New Yorker

One evening in September, our panelists met over dinner at Prospect House.

Princeton University

The pair exchanged several emails and met over dinner in January 2004.

The Guardian - Tech

On Sunday evening, October 21st, Merrill's full board met over dinner with O'Neal and other senior executives.

The New Yorker

She describes the family "meeting" over dinner when they discussed whether she should take the National's offer.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "meet over dinner" to suggest a combination of a social or business meeting with a meal. It implies a more relaxed and informal setting for discussions.

Common error

While "meet over dinner" is acceptable, avoid using it repetitively in your writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "dine together" or "have dinner together" to keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meet over dinner" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, indicating the manner or circumstances of a meeting. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing scheduled meetings between individuals or groups.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

29%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meet over dinner" is a grammatically sound and relatively common prepositional phrase used to describe a meeting that occurs during a dinner. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to slightly informal contexts. When aiming for a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "convene for dinner". Be mindful of overuse and explore related phrases to maintain writing variety. The phrase serves to indicate a combined social or business interaction with a meal, with the intention to foster better relationships in a relaxed setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dine together

This alternative replaces "meet over dinner" with a more concise term that emphasizes the act of sharing a meal.

have dinner together

This option simply rephrases the original query to highlight the shared dining experience.

get together for dinner

This alternative adds a sense of informality and social gathering.

share a dinner

Focuses on the shared aspect of the meal, implying a more intimate setting.

join for dinner

This option emphasizes the invitation aspect of meeting for dinner.

break bread together

This option is a more figurative and slightly archaic way to express sharing a meal, suggesting camaraderie.

convene for dinner

This alternative is more formal and suggests a deliberate assembly.

sup together

This option employs a less common, slightly old-fashioned term for eating dinner.

gather for an evening meal

This alternative provides a more descriptive and less idiomatic way of expressing the same idea.

have supper together

Using "supper" instead of "dinner" indicates a more informal or regional usage.

FAQs

How can I use "meet over dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "meet over dinner" to suggest a meeting combined with a meal. For example, "Let's "meet over dinner" to discuss the project" or "The president and the prime minister will "meet over dinner" to address the trade agreement".

What are some alternatives to "meet over dinner"?

Alternatives include "dine together", "have dinner together", or "get together for dinner", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "meet over dinner" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "meet over dinner" leans towards a neutral register. In highly formal contexts, consider alternatives like "convene for dinner" for a more professional tone.

What does "meet over dinner" imply about the nature of the meeting?

It suggests a combination of a social or business meeting with a meal, typically implying a more relaxed and informal setting for discussions.