secure a meal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "secure a meal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to obtaining or ensuring access to food, often in contexts related to survival or provision. Example: "After a long day of hiking, the group was eager to secure a meal before setting up camp for the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Once the bird had secured a meal, it flew to a perch with the insect in its feet.

Wikipedia

We split the gonotrophic cycle into three components: the time required for mosquitoes to secure a blood meal, the embryo maturation duration and the delay in locating a larval habitat for oviposition.

Plosone

Non-lethal bed nets affect R0 on two fronts: they increase the number of mosquitoes taking blood meals from the non-user humans (increasing R0) but they also incur a delay in securing a blood meal (decreasing R0).

Plosone

An initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the centre should improve the quality of school meals and secure a sustainable market for local producers.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Allegra is currently helping Food Chain, an organization that brings meals to HIV-AIDS victims, to secure a kitchen so that they can deliver meals seven days a week rather than just two.

Huffington Post

If there are to be more than two at the meal, try to secure a round table which will encourage everyone to participate equally in conversation and save heads swivelling like Wimbledon spectators.

The Guardian - Money

In an attempt to address that, her school now reserves 10 places out of its annual intake of 120 for children eligible for free school meals, who can secure a place even if they score 10 marks below the 11-plus qualifying standard that year.

The Guardian

In an effort to attract children from less privileged backgrounds, Rugby now reserves 10 places out of its annual intake of 120 for children eligible for free school meals, who can secure a place even if they score 10 marks below the 11-plus qualifying standard that year.

The Guardian

Reserve, a new competitor whose services overlap those of Resy and OpenTable, is quietly experimenting with market pricing, allowing users to voluntarily offer to pay extra for their meal in order to secure a table.

Forbes

To remember a time when we ate unusually well -- those meals, he writes, that "secure a place in the pantheon" -- is to remember when we lived with gusto and loved well.

The New York Times - Books

Nigel Farage dined out with Donald Trump on Saturday night after managing to secure a last-minute invitation to join the US president for an evening meal.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "secure a meal" when emphasizing the effort or necessity of obtaining food, especially in situations of scarcity or uncertainty. It conveys a sense of actively ensuring access to sustenance.

Common error

Avoid using "secure a meal" in casual contexts where simpler alternatives like "get a meal" or "find a meal" would be more appropriate. "Secure" can sound overly formal in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "secure a meal" functions as a verb phrase, where "secure" acts as the verb and "a meal" serves as the direct object. It describes the action of obtaining or ensuring the provision of food. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Wiki

21%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

25%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "secure a meal" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of obtaining food, often under circumstances that require effort or planning. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's more formal than simply saying "get a meal", and its appropriateness depends on the context. Usage leans toward neutral to professional registers, with examples found in news media, scientific publications, and formal business communications. While grammatically sound, remember that simpler alternatives may be better suited for everyday, casual situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtain a meal

This alternative uses a more formal verb, "obtain", making it slightly more elevated in tone than "secure".

acquire a meal

Similar to "obtain", "acquire" is more formal and suggests a process or effort in getting the meal.

procure a meal

This suggests a more deliberate and possibly difficult effort to obtain the meal.

get a meal

This is a more casual and direct way to express the same idea, suitable for informal contexts.

ensure a meal

This focuses on guaranteeing access to food, rather than simply obtaining it.

find a meal

This implies that the meal is already available and the task is to locate it.

snag a meal

This implies quickly or opportunistically obtaining a meal, often when it's readily available.

arrange for a meal

This implies planning or organizing the provision of a meal.

scrounge a meal

This suggests obtaining a meal through resourcefulness or by gathering what is available, often implying difficulty.

provide a meal for oneself

This phrase explicitly states that the individual is responsible for getting their own meal.

FAQs

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

You can use "secure a meal" in sentences where you want to emphasize the effort or necessity of obtaining food. For example, "After hiking all day, they needed to secure a meal before nightfall."

What can I say instead of "secure a meal"?

You can use alternatives like "obtain a meal", "get a meal", or "find a meal" depending on the context.

Is "secure a meal" formal or informal?

"Secure a meal" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "get a meal". It's suitable for contexts where you want to emphasize effort or necessity.

When is it appropriate to use "secure a meal" over other options?

It is appropriate to use "secure a meal" when the context involves effort, difficulty, or a need to ensure access to food, rather than simply acquiring it. For example, "Refugees often struggle to secure a meal each day".