skip a meal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "skip a meal" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to intentionally not eat a meal, usually for the purpose of saving time or calories. Example: "I was in such a rush this morning that I had to skip a meal and just grab a quick snack on my way out the door."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

And don't skip a meal beforehand.

The New York Times - Health

(To make this harder, they were told to skip a meal before the experiment).

The New Yorker

I often skip a meal – I don't mind being a bit hungry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So are you going to skip a meal for 15 days, each month, to save five days' worth of food?

The New York Times

Firstly, if you skip a meal, you're hungrier at the next meal so more likely to make a worse choice.

Independent

And if we lowered the amount of food stamps they receive, they could skip a meal every day.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Steve Chagollan skipped a meal.

The New York Times

Some days they skipped a meal.

The Guardian

Wouldn't that be worth contracting pneumonia for, and then dying in something not hand-knitted, having skipped a meal?

Independent

After a few drinks, have you sometimes not eaten or skipped a meal because you didn't feel hungry?

The New York Times - Health

Children didn't have the luxury of taking only a few bites or skipping a meal, because the next meal wasn't certain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing health or dietary advice, avoid using "skip a meal" casually. Instead, provide context and rationale for why someone might choose to "not eat a meal".

Common error

Avoid framing "skip a meal" as a universal weight-loss strategy. While it may work for some, it can lead to unhealthy eating patterns, metabolic disruption, and increased hunger later on. Encourage mindful eating habits instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "skip a meal" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of intentionally omitting or missing a scheduled meal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a standard and accepted expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "skip a meal" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of intentionally missing a regularly scheduled meal. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s widely accepted and utilized across various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media, but also appears in scientific and informal writing. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to use the phrase with care when discussing health and diet, avoiding the promotion of unhealthy eating habits. Related phrases include "miss a meal", "omit a meal", and "forgo a meal", offering alternative ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not eat a meal

A direct and simple way of stating that a meal is not consumed.

miss a meal

Uses a different verb to express the same action of not eating a meal.

omit a meal

Replaces "skip" with a more formal verb, "omit", while retaining the core meaning.

forgo a meal

Substitutes "skip" with "forgo", suggesting a voluntary decision to not eat.

go without a meal

Emphasizes the experience of lacking a meal, rather than the act of skipping it.

pass on a meal

Implies a conscious choice to decline a meal, often due to lack of appetite or time.

abstain from eating

Replaces “skip” with a more formal verb, while emphasizing the conscious choice of not eating.

go hungry

Focuses on the resulting state of hunger from missing a meal.

have nothing to eat

Describes a situation where food is unavailable, leading to a missed meal.

eat nothing

A simple way to express forgoing a meal.

FAQs

How to use "skip a meal" in a sentence?

You can use "skip a meal" to describe intentionally missing a regularly scheduled eating period, such as, "I often have to "skip a meal" when I'm busy at work".

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

You can use alternatives like "miss a meal", "omit a meal", or "forgo a meal" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "skip a meal" or "miss a meal"?

Both ""skip a meal"" and "miss a meal" are correct and have similar meanings. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What happens when you "skip a meal"?

When you ""skip a meal"", your blood sugar levels may drop, leading to fatigue, irritability, and potential overeating at the next meal. Regular meal timing is generally recommended for stable energy levels.