lunch out
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To go out to a restaurant or café to have your midday meal.
Literal meaning: 'Lunch' as a verb + 'out' = to have lunch outside of one's usual indoor space. Transparent.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To eat the midday meal at a restaurant or public eating place rather than at home or at work.
"We usually lunch out on Fridays as a team treat."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 formal
To take a client, colleague, or business associate out to lunch at a restaurant.
"She was lunching out a potential investor at the new French bistro downtown."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Slightly dated or formal in style; more common in British English, particularly in business contexts ('lunching out with clients'). More natural alternatives in everyday speech include 'go out for lunch' or 'eat out.' The verb 'lunch' itself is more formal than 'eat.'
Commonly used with
client colleague restaurant frequently today business
Forms
Base
lunch out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lunches out
he/she/it
Past simple
lunched out
yesterday
Past participle
lunched out
have + pp
-ing form
lunching out
continuous
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Synonyms
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