modest lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a meal with relatively small or simple portions. For example, "We had a modest lunch of sandwiches and chips."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Also, the audience members ate the modest lunch we served them with utensils that were not historically accurate.

The New York Times - Travel

Two rather frowsy old gentlemen, pacing through a warehouse district last Tuesday, passed a modest lunch cart.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, May 5 , 1945P. 15 Two rather frowsy old gentlemen, pacing through a warehouse district last Tuesday, passed a modest lunch cart.

The New Yorker

Food shortages have pushed China to the brink of famine, so Mr. Cheng, taking pity on her, invites Wang Qiyao to share his modest lunch of rice and salt pork.

The New York Times - Books

The next day, after getting up at 4 a.m. for church (which lasted for three and a half hours) and a modest lunch around 10 30, Father Ioanikios took me for a ride in his Toyota four-wheel drive (pretty much the only cars I saw on Athos) and told me his story.

The New York Times

A French franc is worth about 17 cents, but a Belgian franc is worth only 2 cents, meaning that after the two-hour train ride from Paris to Brussels, the price of a modest lunch changes from 100 (French) francs to 800 (Belgian) francs.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Modishness has fallen like a curse on this modest Jewish lunch counter.

The Guardian - Travel

The tiny two-room eatery started as a modest blue-collar lunch spot serving simple sandwiches and pastas.

The New York Times

Now she's running a more modest operation, a lunch spot called the Garden Café, in the Y.M.C.A.-Y.M.H.A. in Princeton.

The New York Times

I stretched out on the spare grass to enjoy a modest knapsack picnic lunch near a lone cactus with a single red bloom, munched on my cheese and peasant bread, savored my Rioja tinto and drifted off into an incomparably delicious siesta.

The New York Times - Travel

It will be sent this Wednesday, so we have to finalize a number of details. 12 37: I keep lunch modest, at my desk.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "modest lunch" to convey simplicity and lack of extravagance in a midday meal. It's suitable when describing meals that are not elaborate or large.

Common error

While grammatically sound, avoid overusing "modest lunch" in overly formal or business settings where more professional terms like "light lunch" or "simple midday meal" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest lunch" functions as a noun phrase, where "modest" is an adjective modifying the noun "lunch". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "modest lunch" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a simple, small, and unpretentious midday meal. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. It's particularly suitable for neutral contexts like news and media, conveying a sense of sufficiency without extravagance. While "modest lunch" is appropriate in a variety of situations, considering alternatives like "simple lunch" or "light lunch" may improve clarity or formality depending on the setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simple lunch

Focuses on the simplicity of the meal rather than its size.

light lunch

Emphasizes the small quantity and easy digestibility of the meal.

small lunch

Directly indicates the limited size of the lunch.

frugal lunch

Highlights the economical aspect of the lunch.

humble repast

Uses more formal language to describe a simple meal.

unassuming lunch

Suggests the lunch is plain and without extravagance.

basic lunch

Indicates the fundamental and uncomplicated nature of the meal.

plain lunch

Stresses the lack of elaborate ingredients or preparation.

economical lunch

Highlights the cost-saving aspect of the lunch.

thrifty lunch

Implies careful management of resources in the preparation of the lunch.

FAQs

What does "modest lunch" mean?

A "modest lunch" refers to a midday meal that is simple, small, and not extravagant. It implies a meal that is unpretentious and sufficient without being excessive.

How can I use "modest lunch" in a sentence?

You might say, "After a busy morning, we enjoyed a "simple lunch" of sandwiches and fruit" or "He always packed a "light lunch" to avoid feeling sluggish in the afternoon".

What can I say instead of "modest lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "simple lunch", "light lunch", or "small lunch" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "modest lunch" or "humble lunch"?

Both "modest lunch" and "humble lunch" are grammatically correct, but "modest lunch" is more common when referring to the size and simplicity of the meal. "Humble lunch" may emphasize the unpretentious nature of the meal, but might sound slightly unusual.