Late for means not arriving on time for something or someone: late for work, late for a meeting. After for, you name what you didn't get to on time: a lesson, a doctor's appointment, an interview. To say how late, put the time before late: ten minutes late for class.
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late for + work/school/a meeting; ten minutes late for + noun; late with + payment/task
- I'm never late for work, but today the metro stopped for twenty minutes.
- If you're late for the exam, you may not be allowed into the room.
- Sorry I'm late for our call; my previous meeting ran over.
What changed
First versionSorry, I was late on the meeting because of the traffic.
RevisionSorry, I was late for the meeting because of the traffic.
With late in this sense, the event you didn't arrive on time for is introduced with for: late for the meeting. On isn't used here.
Stay late at work means something else: to stay at work after hours. I stayed late at work to finish the report. And if a bus or train has already left without you, say miss: I missed the last train.
Your turn
My alarm didn't go off, so I was twenty minutes ___ work.
Show the answer
late for — The alarm didn't go off, and the speaker got to work later than they should have, so late for work. Late at work describes an evening when you stay at work until late.
Write about a time you were late: say what you were late for, by how many minutes and why.
Last winter I was forty minutes late for a job interview because my train got stuck in the snow.
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