Topic: FOOD
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| Date: | 1800-1900 |
| Origin: | luncheon |
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lunch1 S1 W2
[uncountable and countable]
[uncountable and countable]1DF a meal eaten in the middle of the day COLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
eat (your) lunch have (your) lunch (=eat lunch) have something for lunch (=eat a particular food or dish at lunchtime) go out for lunch break for lunch (=stop doing something in order to eat lunch) be at lunch (=not be in your place of work because you are somewhere else having lunch) take somebody (out) to lunch working lunch (=a lunch during which you also do business) over lunch (=while eating lunch) packed lunch British English bag lunch American English (=food such as sandwiches that you take to work, school etc) light lunch (=a small meal at lunchtime) hot lunch (=cooked food, rather than sandwiches)
COLLOCATIONS eat (your) lunch have (your) lunch (=eat lunch) have something for lunch (=eat a particular food or dish at lunchtime) go out for lunch break for lunch (=stop doing something in order to eat lunch) be at lunch (=not be in your place of work because you are somewhere else having lunch) take somebody (out) to lunch working lunch (=a lunch during which you also do business) over lunch (=while eating lunch) packed lunch British English bag lunch American English (=food such as sandwiches that you take to work, school etc) light lunch (=a small meal at lunchtime) hot lunch (=cooked food, rather than sandwiches)
2 used to say that you cannot get anything without working for it or paying for it
there's no (such thing as a) free lunch
WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
dinner, supper, tea, lunchIn Britain, the main meal of the day is dinner and it is usually eaten in the evening. Some people call this meal supper, but to others supper is a very small meal that is eaten just before they go to bed. Some people call this main evening meal tea, but to others tea is a small meal that is eaten in the afternoon.Some people use dinner to refer to the meal they eat in the middle of the day, but if you want to be clear that you are referring to this meal, use lunch. ➔ See also dinnerWORD FOCUS: mealWORD FOCUS: meal
meals at different times of day: breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea British English, dinner, supper
a meal outside: picnic, barbecue also barbie informal, cookout American English
when you quickly eat a little food : snack, a bite to eat
a very big meal for a lot of people: banquet, feast
parts of a meal: starter British English, appetizer American English (the first course)
main course/entree especially AmE, side dish (eaten with the main course)
dessert also pudding sweet British English (sweet food eaten at the end of the meal)
➔ See also meal
WORD CHOICE: dinner, supper, tea, lunchIn Britain, the main meal of the day is dinner and it is usually eaten in the evening. Some people call this meal supper, but to others supper is a very small meal that is eaten just before they go to bed. Some people call this main evening meal tea, but to others tea is a small meal that is eaten in the afternoon.Some people use dinner to refer to the meal they eat in the middle of the day, but if you want to be clear that you are referring to this meal, use lunch. ➔ See also dinnerWORD FOCUS: meal
WORD FOCUS: meal meals at different times of day: breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea British English, dinner, supper
a meal outside: picnic, barbecue also barbie informal, cookout American English
when you quickly eat a little food : snack, a bite to eat
a very big meal for a lot of people: banquet, feast
parts of a meal: starter British English, appetizer American English (the first course)
main course/entree especially AmE, side dish (eaten with the main course)
dessert also pudding sweet British English (sweet food eaten at the end of the meal)
➔ See also meal
