Collocations for meal - noun
ADJECTIVE
big,
filling,
heavy
I always want to go to sleep after a heavy meal.
I always want to go to sleep after a heavy meal.
hearty,
slap-up
(BrE)
gourmet (esp. AmE), lavish, sumptuous
decent, proper, square, substantial
She hadn't had a square meal for days.
gourmet (esp. AmE), lavish, sumptuous
decent, proper, square, substantial
She hadn't had a square meal for days.
light,
simple
The bar serves light meals.
The bar serves light meals.
meagre/meager
a meagre/meager meal of bread and cheese
a meagre/meager meal of bread and cheese
four-course,
three-course,
etc.
appetizing, delicious, excellent, lovely (esp. BrE), tasty
Thanks for a delicious meal.
appetizing, delicious, excellent, lovely (esp. BrE), tasty
Thanks for a delicious meal.
home-cooked
She has very little time to prepare home-cooked meals.
She has very little time to prepare home-cooked meals.
balanced,
healthful (AmE),
healthy,
nourishing,
nutritious,
wholesome
main
When do you have your main meal of the day?
main
When do you have your main meal of the day?
evening (esp. BrE),
midday (esp. BrE),
noon
(AmE)
hot
Hot meals are not available after 10 o'clock.
hot
Hot meals are not available after 10 o'clock.
favourite/favorite
That night he made her favourite/favorite meal.
That night he made her favourite/favorite meal.
vegetarian
festive (esp. AmE)
Christmas, Passover, Thanksgiving, etc.
festive (esp. AmE)
Christmas, Passover, Thanksgiving, etc.
Notes: Meals
eat …,
have …
Have you had breakfast?
Have you had breakfast?
take …
(formal)
I often take lunch in the hotel bar.
I often take lunch in the hotel bar.
grab …,
snatch …
(BrE)
Let's grab lunch.
I'm so busy I have to snatch meals when I can.
Let's grab lunch.
I'm so busy I have to snatch meals when I can.
come for/to …,
go for/to meal
(These verbs are often used with around (esp. AmE), out, over and round (esp. BrE).)
We went to Fargo's for lunch.
We're going out for dinner.
We're going out for a meal.
You should come over for dinner sometime.
We went to Fargo's for lunch.
We're going out for dinner.
We're going out for a meal.
You should come over for dinner sometime.
ask sb to …,
have sb for/to …,
invite sb for/to …,
take sb for/to …
(These verbs are often used with around (esp. AmE), out, over and round (esp. BrE).)
He wouldn't have asked me to supper if he didn't like me.
We must have you over for dinner sometime.
Let me take you out for lunch.
He wouldn't have asked me to supper if he didn't like me.
We must have you over for dinner sometime.
Let me take you out for lunch.
be out to lunch
He's out to lunch with a client.
He's out to lunch with a client.
stop for …
We stopped for tea at the Ritz.
We stopped for tea at the Ritz.
join sb for …,
stay for/to …
You're sure you won't stay for dinner?
You're sure you won't stay for dinner?
sit down to …,
start …,
finish …
We had just sat down to breakfast when the phone rang.
We had just sat down to breakfast when the phone rang.
skip …
I sometimes skip lunch if we're very busy.
I sometimes skip lunch if we're very busy.
cook (sb) …,
fix (sb) … (esp. AmE),
get … ready,
make (sb) …,
prepare …
She hurried downstairs to fix herself some breakfast.
She hurried downstairs to fix herself some breakfast.
have … ready
We'll have supper ready for you.
We'll have supper ready for you.
serve …
Lunch is served from 12.30 till 2.30.
Lunch is served from 12.30 till 2.30.
keep … warm,
warm … up
I'll be home late, so keep my dinner warm.
I'll be home late, so keep my dinner warm.
provide (sb with) …
Dinner is provided in the superb hotel restaurant.
Dinner is provided in the superb hotel restaurant.
… is available
A four-course dinner is available by prior arrangement.
A four-course dinner is available by prior arrangement.
… is ready
‘Breakfast's ready!’ shouted Christine.
‘Breakfast's ready!’ shouted Christine.
… time
(usually written as one word)
The family was always noisy at mealtimes.
It was lunchtime.
The family was always noisy at mealtimes.
It was lunchtime.
at …,
during …,
over …
Nobody spoke during supper.
Nobody spoke during supper.
for …
What did you have for lunch?
What did you have for lunch?
… of
a breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup
a breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup