pausing for lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pausing for lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a temporary break in an activity to have lunch. Example: "After a busy morning of meetings, we will be pausing for lunch at noon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Rosie the Riveter," showing a patriotic defense worker clad in overalls and a work shirt with her sleeves rolled up to reveal immensely muscular arms, will be the star of Sotheby's American paintings sale on May 22. Rosie is posed pausing for lunch, with a riveting tool lying across her lap, her visor and goggles back on her head and a ham sandwich in her hand.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But by the time we paused for lunch, we'd grown accustomed to each other.

The Guardian - Travel

I pause for lunch at the elegant Sands Hotel, whose Art Deco-style restaurant overlooks the beach.

Independent

About three miles into the 17-mile march, in 90F (32C) heat, they paused for lunch, water and stretching at a Subway sandwich shop.

The Guardian

Even when the workers pause for lunch on the scaffolding they are solitary – entering the world as they will leave it, entirely alone.

The Guardian - Arts

As the actors pause for lunch, in this industrial unit in west London, we talk about the production, and the sleeping figure resolves itself into Frances Barber.

The Guardian

"The Russians have set out a series of objections … the Russians are stonewalling quite a bit," a western diplomat said as the talks paused for lunch.

The Guardian

We pause for lunch, and Toni produces a bundle of pecorino cheese, bread and chive-flavoured prosciutto from his leather satchel – all home-produced.

The Guardian - Travel

At the top of the Ramcharger, a high-speed quad lift up Andesite, was the Dugout, a barbecue hangout where skiers paused for lunch or a cold beer before the last run of the day.

The New York Times - Travel

We passed the 900-year-old state cHeddalat Heddal, one of the largest of Norway's 29 stave churches, and paused for lunch 10 miles later at a popular roadside eatery called Fossen Kro, or "waterfall inn".

The New York Times - Travel

After winding through more back lanes, we paused for lunch at the Green Man Inn in Fownhope, a traditional black-and-white pub filled with locals and offering a reassuringly familiar menu (roast chicken, peas and chips; apple-raspberry crumble smothered in custard).

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of events, use "pausing for lunch" to clearly indicate a break in the action. For example: "After the morning session, we will be "pausing for lunch" before reconvening."

Common error

Avoid using "pausing for lunch" when you actually mean the completion of a task before lunch. Instead, clarify if the task was finished or simply interrupted. For instance, instead of saying 'Pausing for lunch, the report was incomplete', say 'We paused for lunch, leaving the report incomplete' to be precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pausing for lunch" functions as a verb phrase indicating a temporary interruption of an activity for the purpose of eating lunch. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pausing for lunch" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to express the action of taking a break for lunch. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While perfectly acceptable, consider alternative phrasing for more formal or specific communication needs, such as "taking a lunch break" or specifying the completion status of a task before lunch. Remember to clearly indicate whether the activity was merely interrupted or fully completed before the lunch break.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking a lunch break

Indicates a scheduled or designated break specifically for lunch.

breaking for lunch

A common and slightly more concise way to express the same action.

breaking to eat lunch

A more literal description of stopping one activity in order to eat lunch.

taking time out for lunch

Emphasizes the act of setting aside time from other activities.

stopping for a midday meal

More formal way of saying stopping to eat lunch.

halting for lunch

Similar, but implies a more abrupt or temporary stop.

interrupting work for lunch

Highlights the disruption of work activities for the purpose of eating lunch.

suspending activity for lunch

A more formal and less common way to indicate stopping an activity for lunch.

taking a breather for lunch

Implies needing a rest during lunch, not just eating.

recessing for lunch

Often used in formal or legal settings.

FAQs

What does "pausing for lunch" mean?

"Pausing for lunch" means taking a temporary break from an activity to have lunch. It indicates an interruption of work or other tasks for a midday meal.

What can I say instead of "pausing for lunch"?

You can use alternatives like "taking a lunch break", "stopping for lunch", or "breaking for lunch" depending on the context.

Is "pausing for lunch" grammatically correct?

Yes, "pausing for lunch" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English grammar rules and is a commonly used phrase.

How formal is the phrase "pausing for lunch"?

The phrase "pausing for lunch" is relatively neutral in tone. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts without sounding out of place. However, alternatives like "recessing for lunch" might be more appropriate in very formal settings.