for my supper

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for my supper" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a meal that one is preparing or consuming in the evening. Example: "I decided to cook a delicious pasta dish for my supper after a long day at work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

I work for my supper.

The New York Times - Food

They certainly made me work for my supper".

The New York Times - Food

I took some home and had them cooked for my supper.

The Guardian - Books

"That should do me for my supper," the 25-year-old says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

All right, boys, they've brought me down here to sing for my supper, so I'd better do some singing.

The New Yorker

(Bassey has little time for domestic chores. She famously said, "Listen, baby, I sing for my supper. I bloody well don't have to cook it as well").

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

COLMAN ANDREWS was not making any I-sang-for-my-supper jokes about his appearance in Dallas over the weekend with several well-known chefs.

The New York Times

This was dessert for my Burns Night supper, and it made a fine, boozy end to a fine, boozy meal.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So out of a choice of veal brains, tripe or flamed kidneys for my last supper, I plump for the latter.

The Guardian

From the flaky hot canapés served in the evening with aperitivos at the bar to the velvety sweet marrons glacé, the bittersweet chocolate-covered kikingi (little tart orange Cape gooseberries) and dessert pastries, this gracious setting provided a felicitous ending for my own last supper in Milan.

The New York Times - Travel

I still had one other patient to see before I could go home, prepare supper for my son, and get ready to be on time for our meeting tonight.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for my supper" when you want to evoke a sense of earning one's meal, whether literally through work or metaphorically through contribution.

Common error

Avoid using "for my supper" in contexts where a simple reference to dinner or the evening meal is sufficient; the phrase carries a connotation of earning or deserving the meal, which may be inappropriate in neutral situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for my supper" typically functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the purpose or reason for an action. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where the phrase describes the motivation behind actions, such as performing or working.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

13%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for my supper" is a common expression used to convey the idea of earning one's evening meal through work or contribution. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, the phrase carries a connotation of deserving or working for the meal, making it more suitable for contexts where this idea is relevant. Alternatives like "to earn my keep" or "to work "for food"" offer similar meanings, but "for my supper" retains a unique folksy charm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to earn my keep

Implies contributing labor or service in exchange for basic necessities, including food.

to work for food

Directly suggests performing tasks to receive food as compensation.

to sing for my meal

Highlights using a specific talent (singing) to get a meal, akin to performing for sustenance.

to earn my dinner

Directly correlates effort and reward (dinner).

to labor for dinner

Emphasizes the effort put in to obtain the evening meal.

to slave for sustenance

Suggests toiling hard to get food, highlighting the effort required.

to toil for my dinner

Emphasizes hard work to get dinner.

to work to eat

A more general expression meaning to work in order to survive or have basic needs met.

to do my share for dinner

Implies contributing to the preparation or procurement of the evening meal.

my evening meal

A straightforward reference to dinner as my evening meal.

FAQs

How can I use "for my supper" in a sentence?

You can use "for my supper" to indicate you are doing something in order to earn your evening meal. For example, "I had to sing "for my supper" at the party."

What does it mean to "sing for my supper"?

To "sing "for my supper"" means to perform a task or service in exchange for food or other compensation, often referring to a performance or display of talent.

Is "for my supper" interchangeable with "for my dinner"?

While "for my supper" and "for my dinner" can often be used interchangeably, "for my supper" carries a slightly more old-fashioned or folksy connotation, implying a sense of earning one's meal.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "for my supper"?

It is appropriate to use "for my supper" when you want to emphasize the idea of working or contributing in order to earn or deserve your evening meal. Otherwise, a simple reference to dinner is usually sufficient.