make a meal

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a meal" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to the act of preparing food for a meal, or when talking about a dish that is intended to serve as an entire meal. For example, you might say, "Let's make a meal out of stir-fry vegetables and rice tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Make a meal of Shakespeare's Romeo.

The New Yorker

I could make a meal of them.

The New York Times

"It was frustrating to make a meal".

The New York Times

Or how to make a meal faster.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

You can make a meal out of either dish.

The New York Times - Health

FRESH AND FAST VEGETARIAN: Recipes That Make a Meal.

The New York Times - Books

I can happily make a meal out of dim sum.

The New York Times

You could easily make a meal of starters and desserts.

The New York Times

The pasta helped make a meal out of it".

The New York Times - Magazine

Could you make a meal of tapas alone?

The New York Times

I could make a meal of Mr. Nanneti's appetizers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to appetizers, consider using "make a meal of" to suggest that they are substantial and fulfilling enough to replace a main course.

Common error

Avoid using "make a meal of" literally when you mean simply to prepare food. The idiom implies spending too much time or effort on something, or suggests consuming something significant. To simply refer to the preparation of dinner avoid the idiom "make a meal of it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a meal" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to describe the act of preparing food or creating a dish. It can also function idiomatically, meaning to exaggerate or spend too much effort on something. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples illustrating both literal and idiomatic usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make a meal" is a versatile expression with both literal and idiomatic meanings. Literally, it refers to preparing or creating a dish, while idiomatically, it signifies exaggerating or overemphasizing something. Ludwig, confirming its correctness and usability, showcases its prevalence in diverse sources like news media and general writing. Understanding its dual nature is crucial for effective communication, helping to prevent misinterpretations and ensuring precise expression. While generally neutral, be mindful of the context when using the idiomatic sense to maintain appropriate tone and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put together a meal

Focuses on assembling a meal from various components.

put food together

General term for preparing food and getting it ready to eat.

prepare a dish

Focuses on the act of preparing a specific dish, rather than the entire meal.

put food on the table

Highlights providing food for a meal.

cook up a storm

Emphasizes the act of cooking with enthusiasm and creating many dishes.

fix a plate

Highlights arranging food on a plate, ready to be eaten.

whip up something to eat

Implies a quick and easy preparation of food.

create a culinary experience

Emphasizes the overall experience and enjoyment of a meal.

rustle up some grub

Informal way of saying to quickly prepare a meal.

arrange a dinner

Focuses on planning and organizing a formal dinner event.

FAQs

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

You can use "make a meal" to describe preparing food, consuming an entire dish, or, idiomatically, exaggerating the importance of something. For example: "Let's make a meal with these leftovers," or "The media tends to "make a meal of it" when there's controversy."

What does it mean to "make a meal of something"?

To "make a meal of something" idiomatically means to spend too much time or effort on something that is simple, or to exaggerate its importance.

Is it correct to say "make a meal from" instead of "make a meal of"?

While both prepositions can be used, "make a meal of" is more common and idiomatic, suggesting a complete or substantial meal. "Make a meal from" can be used to emphasize the ingredients or source of the meal.

What's a good alternative to "make a meal of" when referring to food preparation?

If you want to suggest something that you prepare food avoid using the idiomatic expression "make a meal of it", instead you can use "prepare a dish", "cook a meal", or "fix a plate".