a ready meal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a ready meal" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a pre-prepared meal that can be quickly heated and eaten, often found in grocery stores. Example: "After a long day at work, I often opt for a ready meal to save time on cooking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Better than a ready meal anyway.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Homemade tandoori chicken beats a ready meal any day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Certainly pre-prepared, so it was like a ready meal, but Tesco Finest rather than Lidl.

The Guardian

You'd be better off with a ready meal; God knows what d'Acampo's countrymen must think of him.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Combined, these funds act like a shoal of tuna, roaming the seas in search of a ready meal.

The Guardian - Business

If someone really, really doesn't want to cook, I'm sure they'd be better off with a ready meal".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

I am a ready meal-eating flounce-throwing multi-tutting arsehole.

Vice

10 The definition of a ready meals is inconsistent, but the food industry sometimes defines it as a preprepared main course that can be reheated in its container, requires no further ingredients, and needs only minimal preparation before consumption.

British Medical Journal

City Sickness was a pop symphony on a ready-meal budget.

The Guardian - Music

"Sure that outlet's being switched off was your fault?" Gertrude fished, slipping a ready-meal lasagne into the microwave.

The Guardian - Books

She began modelling at the age of 12 and her acting career started with a ready-meal TV advert when she was 13.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the nutritional value, compare the specific ingredients and nutritional content of "a ready meal" to those of a home-cooked meal to provide a clear understanding of its health implications.

Common error

Avoid blanket statements about all "ready meals" being unhealthy. Focus on specific types and brands, as nutritional content varies significantly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a ready meal" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig confirms its common usage. Examples show it describing the choice to eat a pre-prepared meal instead of cooking.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a ready meal" is a common noun phrase used to describe a pre-prepared meal requiring minimal cooking. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in News & Media contexts. While convenient, it's important to consider the nutritional content of specific "ready meals" due to varying ingredients. Alternatives include "convenience food" or "prepared meal". Be mindful not to overgeneralize its health impacts and specify the meal type when providing such comparison.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pre-packaged meal

Focuses on the packaging aspect of the meal.

pre-prepared dinner

Highlights that it's a dinner that has already been prepared.

convenience food

Emphasizes the convenience factor of the meal.

microwave dinner

Specifies that the meal is intended to be microwaved.

TV dinner

A classic term for a pre-packaged meal, often frozen.

instant meal

Highlights the speed and ease of preparation.

prepared meal

General term emphasizing that the meal is already prepared.

heat-and-eat meal

Describes the primary action needed to prepare the meal.

processed food entree

Highlights the processing involved and that it's an entree.

pre-made meal

Simple and direct alternative, emphasizing pre-made status.

FAQs

How can I use "a ready meal" in a sentence?

You can use "a ready meal" to describe a pre-prepared meal that requires minimal cooking. For example, "After a busy day, I often opt for "a ready meal" to save time."

What is another way to say "a ready meal"?

Alternatives to "a ready meal" include "convenience food", "pre-packaged meal", or "prepared meal" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a ready meal"?

Yes, "a ready meal" is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules for noun phrases.

What are the pros and cons of eating "a ready meal"?

Pros include convenience and time-saving. Cons often involve higher sodium content and potentially lower nutritional value compared to home-cooked meals. It depends largely on the specific "prepared meal".