overdue lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overdue lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a lunch that was supposed to happen earlier but has not yet taken place, often implying that it is now late or delayed. Example: "After weeks of rescheduling, we finally managed to meet for our overdue lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The department has been telling principals to collect overdue lunch money or risk having it docked from their school budgets.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Before extending his project to cover the entire state, Lew raised more than $98,000 for five school districts, wiping out overdue school lunch balances for thousands of students.

Huffington Post

Lunch was long overdue by the time we made it to Explore Booksellers and Bistro, a 100-year-old Victorian house at 221 East Main Street (970-925-5338; www.explorebooksellers.com; about $50 for two) with a beloved, creaky-floored book-shop downstairs and a vegetarian cafe upstairs.

The New York Times - Travel

Lunch by now is long overdue, and you should head past the grandiose headquarters of Angela Merkel to the Restaurant Paris-Moskau, north of the Tiergarten.

The Guardian - Travel

Make sure you pay any overdue library book fines, return lost textbooks or pay the fine, and lunch money or you won't get your diploma.

WikiHow

Others said the partitions were long overdue, among them Lynford Fairclough, 58, who emerged from the depot on his lunch break from driving the B46, the same route through Bedford-Stuyvesant that Mr. Thomas worked on the day he was killed.

The New York Times

Although new for many German firms, with their long lunch-breaks, rest cures and limited working hours, such changes are surely long overdue.Yet not all German private-equity deals have been a success.

The Economist

Ms. Pope said some Sysco representatives came to her restaurant during lunch unannounced three years ago and handed her a certified letter demanding immediate payment of a bill that was 120 days overdue.

The New York Times

Invited to lunch with a dozen or so other witnesses at the presidential palace on Monday, he expressed joy. "This is historically overdue," Mr. Rackow said.

The New York Times

Much overdue".

The Guardian - Music

"That's overdue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overdue lunch" when you want to emphasize that a lunch appointment or meal has been delayed beyond its expected time.

Common error

Avoid using "overdue lunch" when you simply mean a late lunch. "Overdue" implies a sense of obligation or expectation that was not met, whereas "late" simply refers to timing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overdue lunch" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "overdue" modifies the noun "lunch". It describes a specific instance of lunch that is past its expected or scheduled time. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overdue lunch" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a lunch appointment or meal that has been delayed beyond its expected time. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. While not exceedingly common, its meaning is clear and it can be used in various contexts, most frequently in news and media. Alternatives such as "late lunch" or "delayed lunch" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember that "overdue" emphasizes a missed expectation, distinguishing it from simply a "late" meal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

late lunch

Indicates that the lunch is happening later than originally planned or expected.

delayed lunch

Emphasizes the postponement of the lunch to a later time.

tardy lunch

Suggests that the lunch is behind schedule or not punctual.

outstanding lunch

Highlights that the lunch is yet to be had, implying anticipation.

missed lunch

Focuses on the fact that the lunch was not eaten when it was supposed to be.

unpaid lunch

If the reference is about school lunches, this could refer to the money for a school lunch that has not been paid.

long-awaited lunch

Implies that the lunch has been anticipated for a significant period.

rescheduled lunch

Focuses on the fact that the lunch was postponed and moved to another date.

lunch past due

A more formal way of saying that the lunch should have happened already.

a lunch that is behind schedule

Very specific alternative with a very descriptive and literal explanation.

FAQs

What does "overdue lunch" mean?

The phrase "overdue lunch" means a lunch appointment or meal that was scheduled for an earlier time but has not yet occurred, implying it is now behind schedule.

How to use "overdue lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "overdue lunch" in a sentence like: "After a busy week, we finally managed to have our "overdue lunch"." or "The department has been telling principals to collect "overdue lunch" money or risk having it docked from their school budgets."

What can I say instead of "overdue lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "late lunch", "delayed lunch", or "long-awaited lunch" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "late lunch" or "overdue lunch"?

"Late lunch" simply means a lunch eaten later than usual. "Overdue lunch" implies a previously scheduled lunch that is now delayed beyond its expected time. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.