[General] Tonight I can't get home to eat

[Silverobama]

Hi.

Let's say tonight I had a gathering with my friends so I couldn't go home to eat with my family. I sent a message to them, saying "Tonight I can't get home to eat. So don't wait for me".

I wonder if it's natural.

 

[Tarheel]

It's pretty good. It's easy to understand.
:up:

(You could say, "I went out with my friends.")

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, we don't call a group of friends socialising a gathering.

I'd have messaged it like this: "I can't get home in time to eat tonight, so don't wait for me".

 

[Tarheel]

In American English we might say:

Don't wait up for me.

 

[tzfujimino]

... and it's used like this, right?

I'll be home after midnight, so don't wait up for me.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/wait-up

 

[Tarheel]

Yep.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Don't wait for me" (in this context) means "Don't wait for me before you start eating". "Don't wait up for me" means "Don't wait for me before going to bed".

 

[teechar]

You can also say:
I can't make it for dinner tonight. I'm staying out late with some friends. [ and you can switch those around]

Note also the difference between "wait for" and "wait up for" as explained above.

 

[Tdol]

I won't get back in time for dinner.