# power lunch

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/power-lunch
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A working lunch at which bosses make business decisions or hold important discussions.

## Examples

- They are having a power lunch to discuss the new contract.
- She plans a power lunch to pitch her idea to the manager.
- We often use a power lunch to network with important clients.
- The CEO invited the potential investors to a power lunch at a quiet, expensive restaurant to finalize the merger.
- The department heads scheduled a power lunch to resolve the budget issues before the afternoon board meeting.
- During their power lunch at the hotel, the two partners agreed on a new marketing strategy for the upcoming year.
- While the rest of the staff ate at their desks, the executives held a power lunch to determine the future direction of the company.

## Origin

Coined by the American journalist Lee Eisenberg in 1979, the term first appeared in an article for Esquire titled America’s Most Powerful Lunch. Eisenberg used the phrase to identify a specific type of mid-day business encounter where the consumption of food is secondary to the exercise of influence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.