off for lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

"off for lunch" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone leaving for lunch, for example: My co-worker said he was off for lunch, so I assumed he wouldn't be back for another hour.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Lucia had to rush off for lunch.

The New Yorker

"They just turn them off for lunch".

The New York Times

Noonin: Taking time off for lunch.

The New York Times

I try to take 30 minutes off for lunch.

The New York Times

The workers get an hour off for lunch.

The Guardian

I went off for lunch at the service plaza, checking occasionally on the car's progress.

The New York Times

After Puppetopia: Enchanted Land of Learning, you see a group of moms heading off for lunch.

The New Yorker

Ninety minutes later, they all meet up again and go off for lunch.

The Guardian - Sport

I'd get one hour off for lunch and two for dinner.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The day would start in New York and end in Martinique, perhaps with a stop-off for lunch in Miami, if I could be bothered.

The New York Times

I described an incident in which she had promised a client she would resolve an issue right away, then proceeded to take off for lunch without telling the team or her client she would be away.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formal correspondence, consider alternatives like "taking a lunch break" or "departing for lunch" for a more professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "off for lunch" if the person is not expected to return to the same activity immediately after lunch. In such cases, use phrases like "done for the day" or "out of office".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "off for lunch" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a temporary departure for the purpose of having lunch. Ludwig's examples show it commonly describes someone leaving their work or activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

15%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "off for lunch" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that someone is leaving to have lunch, suggesting a temporary departure and subsequent return. According to Ludwig, the phrase appears frequently in news and media, academia, and wiki contexts, indicating its broad applicability. While perfectly acceptable in most situations, consider using more formal alternatives such as "taking a lunch break" in professional correspondence. Remember to avoid this phrase when someone won't be returning to the same activity after lunch. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability and offers examples from reliable sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going to lunch

More direct and common alternative.

heading to lunch

Similar to "going to lunch" but with a sense of direction.

taking a lunch break

Emphasizes the break aspect of the meal.

on a lunch break

Specifies that someone is currently having their lunch break.

breaking for lunch

Highlights the interruption of work for the meal.

having lunch

General statement about eating lunch.

taking lunch

Focuses on the action of eating lunch.

departing for lunch

A more formal way of saying leaving for lunch.

disappearing for lunch

Implies a sudden or quick departure for lunch.

at lunch

Shorter, less descriptive, implies presence at lunch.

FAQs

How can I use "off for lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "off for lunch" to indicate someone is leaving to have lunch, for example: "She said she was "off for lunch" and would be back in an hour".

What is a more formal alternative to "off for lunch"?

A more formal alternative would be "taking a lunch break" or "departing for lunch".

Is "off to lunch" the same as "off for lunch"?

While similar, "off to lunch" emphasizes the destination (the place where lunch will be eaten), whereas "off for lunch" focuses on the activity itself. Both are generally acceptable.

What does it mean when someone says they are "off for lunch"?

It means they are temporarily leaving their current activity or location to have lunch, implying they will return afterwards. It's similar to saying they are "going to lunch" or taking a lunch break.