lunch
- to eat lunch: We lunched quite late today.
- to provide lunch for: They lunched us in regal fashion.
- out to lunch, Slang. not paying attention or tending to business; negligent: You must have been out to lunch when you wrote that weird report.
Origin of lunch
Examples from the Web for lunch
Contemporary Examples
According to the USDA, student participation began to fall, with 1.4 million students opting out of the lunch program entirely.
Two Indonesian airlines, Garuda and Lion Air, have seen Fernandes eat their lunch and are only now responding.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501Clive Irving
January 6, 2015
On one summer lunch hour, Donna Ann Levonuk, 50, lifted a tub of diaper cream priced at $43.98—and then stashed it in her purse.
I'm to be at his Universal bungalow at twelve-thirty for lunch, to meet him for the first time, going to see a man about a job.
Then, after lunch, another story meeting, a film, or my own work session, alone.
Historical Examples
"They needn't eat their lunch that way," declared his sister.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
And so she sat quietly eating her lunch, and talking with us.
Harriet, The Moses of Her PeopleSarah H. Bradford
When Viviette came down for lunch, she found Dick awaiting her in the hall.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
Next he went all the way, was asked to go in, and invited to stay to lunch.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Come in the morning if you want, and we'll take a lunch and go for the day.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
lunch
- a meal eaten during the middle of the day
- Caribbean (among older people) mid-afternoon tea
- (intr) to eat lunch
- (tr) to provide or buy lunch for
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for lunch
n.
"mid-day repast," 1786, shortened form of luncheon (q.v.). The verb meaning "to take to lunch" (said to be from the noun) also is attested from 1786:
PRATTLE. I always to be ſure, makes a point to keep up the dignity of the family I lives in. Wou'd you take a more ſolid refreſhment?--Have you lunch'd, Mr. Bribe?
BRIBE. Lunch'd O dear! Permit me, my dear Mrs. Prattle, to refreſh my sponge, upon the honey dew that clings to your raviſhing pouters. O! Mrs. Prattle, this ſhall be my lunch. (kiſſes)
["The Mode," in William Davies' "Plays Written for a Private Theatre," London, 1786]
But as late as 1817 the only definition of lunch in Webster's is "a large piece of food." OED says in 1820s the word "was regarded either as a vulgarism, or as a fashionable affectation." Related: Lunched; lunching. Lunch money is attested from 1868; lunch-time (n.) is from 1821; lunch hour is from 1840. Slang phrase out to lunch "insane, stupid, clueless" first recorded 1955, on notion of being "not there." Old English had nonmete "afternoon meal," literally "noon-meat."
Idioms and Phrases with lunch
lunch
see eat someone alive (someone's lunch); free lunch; lose one's lunch; out to (lunch).