Taking a lunch break is essential for productivity and health. Here are 30 idioms and phrasal verbs related to lunch breaks, complete with short meanings and example sentences to help you use them effectively.
1. Grab a bite
Meaning: Eat quickly
Example: Let’s grab a bite to eat.
2. Break bread
Meaning: Share a meal
Example: We broke bread at the new cafe.
3. Take five
Meaning: Short rest
Example: Let’s take five before continuing.
4. Chow down
Meaning: Eat eagerly
Example: They chowed down on the pizza.
5. Dig in
Meaning: Start eating
Example: The food’s ready, so dig in!
6. Lunch out
Meaning: Eat lunch outside
Example: We decided to lunch out today.
7. Brown-bag it
Meaning: Bring lunch from home
Example: I usually brown-bag it to save money.
8. Power lunch
Meaning: Business lunch
Example: They scheduled a power lunch downtown.
9. Eat out
Meaning: Dine at a restaurant
Example: We often eat out on Fridays.
10. Take a breather
Meaning: Short rest
Example: Let’s take a breather after lunch.
11. Wolf down
Meaning: Eat quickly
Example: He wolfed down his sandwich.
12. Go for lunch
Meaning: Have lunch
Example: Let’s go for lunch at noon.
13. Lunch break
Meaning: Time for lunch
Example: I have a lunch break at 1 PM.
14. Out to lunch
Meaning: Mentally absent
Example: He seems out to lunch today.
15. Catch a quick bite
Meaning: Eat quickly
Example: I caught a quick bite before the meeting.
16. Lunch hour
Meaning: Time for lunch
Example: We have a flexible lunch hour.
17. Sit down to lunch
Meaning: Start lunch
Example: We sat down to lunch at 12.
18. Pack a lunch
Meaning: Bring lunch
Example: I packed a lunch for the trip.
19. Lunchtime
Meaning: Time for lunch
Example: Lunchtime is my favorite part of the day.
20. Nosh on
Meaning: Eat casually
Example: We noshed on some snacks.
21. Go for a stroll
Meaning: Walk leisurely
Example: Let’s go for a stroll after lunch.
22. Break time
Meaning: Rest period
Example: Break time is at noon.
23. Snack on
Meaning: Eat lightly
Example: She snacked on fruit during lunch.
24. Have a nibble
Meaning: Eat a little
Example: He had a nibble of the cake.
25. Lunch meeting
Meaning: Meeting over lunch
Example: We have a lunch meeting today.
26. Step out for lunch
Meaning: Go out to eat
Example: I stepped out for lunch at 1 PM.
27. Light lunch
Meaning: Small meal
Example: I prefer a light lunch.
28. Break for lunch
Meaning: Pause to eat
Example: Let’s break for lunch now.
29. On the go
Meaning: While moving
Example: He eats lunch on the go.
30. Take lunch
Meaning: Have lunch
Example: I’ll take lunch at my desk.
