lovely meal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lovely meal" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a meal that is enjoyable, delicious, or pleasing in some way. Example: "We had a lovely meal at the new Italian restaurant downtown, and the service was exceptional."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

lovely meal.

The New York Times

A lovely meal.

The New York Times - Travel

There were no disturbances and you could get a lovely meal in the evening.

The Guardian - Books

She made a lovely meal, but she and the boys ended up having a huge argument.

The Guardian - Opinion

We then went out and had a lovely meal - I had rice.

The Guardian - Travel

"Listen," said Douglas, "you've — I've — This has been a lovely meal, but — Well, aren't you all being quite preposterous?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

We have lovely meals with wine, then retire to sofas in the living room.

The New York Times

We ate some lovely meals; no, I don't need the recipe, thanks anyway.

The New York Times

I would later have some lovely meals, like the chanfana (goat stewed in red wine sauce; 7.50 euros) at Democrática, a sometimes rowdy student hangout.

The New York Times

She never, however, self-medicates with that single-girl painkiller, the pint of Häagen-Dazs, and she always makes lovely meals for herself.

The New York Times

We helped Dad grow and cultivate vegetables and fruit from the garden, Mom used to turn that into wonderful and simple but lovely meals and I used to help out.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "lovely meal" with specific details about the food or the setting to enhance the description. For example, "We had a lovely meal by the sea, with fresh seafood and a beautiful sunset."

Common error

While "lovely meal" is generally acceptable, avoid using it in highly formal or professional writing where more sophisticated vocabulary might be expected. Opt for terms like "exquisite dining experience" or "delightful repast" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lovely meal" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "lovely" modifies the noun "meal". Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is used to describe a dining experience that is pleasing and enjoyable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Travel

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lovely meal" is a commonly used phrase to express enjoyment of a dining experience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. While suitable for various contexts, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives in professional settings. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Travel, and Lifestyle content. Remember to add details or change synonyms in order to make the sentences more descriptive and elaborate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enjoyable dinner

Substitutes "lovely" with "enjoyable", focusing on the experience of pleasure during the meal, and "meal" with dinner, focusing on dinner time.

delightful repast

Replaces "meal" with the more formal "repast" and "lovely" with "delightful", increasing the formality.

wonderful lunch

Specifies "lunch" instead of a generic meal and uses "wonderful" in place of "lovely."

pleasant supper

Replaces "meal" with "supper", suggesting a lighter evening meal, and lovely with a similar adjective. It may come across as old fashioned.

exquisite dining experience

Replaces "meal" with a more elaborate "dining experience" and "lovely" with "exquisite", increasing the sense of sophistication.

splendid repast

Replaces “lovely” with “splendid”, elevating the tone, and replacing meal with repast, which makes the sentences a little more elegant.

satisfying feast

Replaces meal with feast, suggesting a bigger meal. Replaces "lovely" with satisfying, referring to the felling one has after the meal.

delicious banquet

Replaces "meal" with "banquet", suggesting a formal and elaborate occasion, and lovely with delicious, which refers to flavor.

gratifying food

Switches to a focus on "food" rather than "meal", emphasizing the fulfilling quality of the fare, and using “gratifying” as in satisfying to eat.

divine cuisine

Highlights the exceptional quality of the "cuisine" (a style or method of cooking), replacing “lovely” with “divine” to reflect its exceptional quality.

FAQs

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

You can use "lovely meal" to describe an enjoyable dining experience. For example: "We had a "lovely meal" at the new restaurant." or "Thank you for the "lovely meal"."

What are some alternatives to "lovely meal"?

Some alternatives to "lovely meal" include "enjoyable dinner", "delightful repast", or "pleasant supper". The best choice depends on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "lovely meal" too informal for business communication?

While "lovely meal" is generally understood, it might be perceived as too informal in certain business contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives such as "exquisite dining experience" or "exceptional cuisine" to maintain a professional tone.

What makes a meal "lovely"?

A "lovely meal" typically implies that the food was delicious, the company was pleasant, and the overall atmosphere was enjoyable. It suggests a positive and satisfying dining experience.