meals down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meals down" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
Without additional context, it is difficult to determine when it could be used, as it appears to be an incomplete or incorrect expression. Example: "After a long day, I usually sit down to enjoy my meals down."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Last year, the city's senior centers delivered 8.2 million meals, down from 9.1 million in 1998.

The New York Times

And as you'd expect, there were big Madiran red wines everywhere to wash meals down with, and all at very decent prices, certainly for ski resorts.

The Guardian - Travel

They have whittled their meals down from eating twice a day to once a day.

Unicef

Instead of eating your main 2 or 3 daily meals, break your meals down into 5 or 6 snack-size meals throughout the course of the day.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That evening, we meandered through a long, leisurely meal down by the Seaport at the Capt.

The New York Times - Travel

And needless to say, we'll be washing the meal down with vodka and tea.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As she set his meal down on the table, he scraped the point lightly down his bare forearm.

The New Yorker

You order by the lobster tanks, then carry your meal down the street to the dining room, outfitted with picnic tables and dangling lobster buoys.

The New York Times - Food

Wash the meal down with a tall glass of thick, creamy piyush, which is basically a more liquidy version of shrikhand, a sweet, saffron-laced strained yogurt.

The New York Times - Travel

There's a constantly changing parade of local beers and I washed my meal down with a pint of Dark Star Hophead.

The Guardian - Travel

The billionaire environmentalist admitted spending much of the opening stages of his odyssey bent over the side of his ship's recycled hull before his sea legs finally returned and he could keep a meal down.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the action of reducing the size or frequency of meals, use more precise phrases such as "reduce meal portions" or "space out meals".

Common error

Using the phrase "meals down" can lead to confusion. Instead, opt for clearer and more specific language like "decrease meal sizes" or "reduce the number of meals" to convey your intended meaning accurately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meals down" functions variably, sometimes suggesting a reduction in meal size or frequency, and other times implying consumption with a beverage. Ludwig AI indicates grammatical concerns with the phrase, which contributes to its ambiguous function.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "meals down" lacks consistent and clear usage in written English, as Ludwig AI points out. While examples exist, they often involve different intended meanings, ranging from reducing meal portions to washing food down with a drink. Given its grammatical ambiguity and the availability of more precise alternatives, it's advisable to avoid "meals down" in favor of clearer phrasing such as "reduce meal portions", "eat less frequently", or "wash the meal down with" to ensure effective communication. The primary contexts where "meals down" appears include News & Media, Wiki, and Formal & Business sources; however, its frequency is rare, making it a less common expression overall.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eat meals

Focuses on the act of consuming meals, omitting any directional component.

finish meals

Implies completing the act of eating a meal entirely.

consume meals

Highlights the process of ingestion and digestion of food.

reduce meal portions

Emphasizes decreasing the quantity of food served or eaten in a single meal.

space out meals

Indicates distributing meals more evenly throughout the day.

break down meals

Refers to digesting the components of a meal.

wash meals down

Refers to drinking something with a meal.

deliver meals

Focuses on the action of bringing meals to someone.

offer discounted meals

Highlights the action of reducing the price of meals

eat a meal

A generic way to refer to eating a meal.

FAQs

How can I describe reducing the size of my meals?

Instead of saying "meals down", consider using phrases like "smaller portions", "reduce meal sizes", or "cut back on meal quantity". For example, "I'm trying to eat smaller portions to lose weight" is clearer than "I'm trying to get my meals down".

What's a better way to say I'm eating less often?

If you're eating less frequently, avoid "meals down" and instead say "I'm skipping meals", "I've reduced the number of meals I eat", or "I'm spacing out my "meals down"" (eating less often).

Is "meals down" grammatically correct?

While you might encounter the phrase "meals down", it's not considered standard English. It's best to use more precise and widely accepted phrasing to avoid confusion. The phrase does not convey a clear meaning.

What can I say instead of "meals down" when referring to drinking something with a meal?

If you intend to convey the idea of drinking something while eating, a better alternative is to say "wash the "meal down" with" something.