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general::
meal
verbs
have a meal
(= eat a meal )
• We usually have our evening meal fairly early.
eat a meal
• When they had eaten their meal, they went out for a walk.
cook/make a meal
( also prepare a meal formal )
• Who cooks most of the meals?
serve a meal
• The bar serves snacks and meals.
fix a meal
informal especially American English (= make a meal )
go (out) for a meal
• How about going out for a meal tonight?
take somebody (out) for a meal
• He took Anna out for a meal and then to the theatre.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + meal
an evening/midday meal
• The evening meal is served at 7.30.
the main meal
• They had their main meal at lunch time.
a three-course/five-course etc meal
(= a meal with several separate parts )
• a three-course meal, including appetizer and dessert
a good meal
(= a meal that is large enough and tastes good )
• We’ll get a good meal there.
a decent meal/a square meal
( also a proper meal British English ) (= with enough good food to satisfy you )
• I hadn’t had a decent meal in days.
a big/large meal
• We don’t have a big meal at lunchtime, usually just sandwiches.
a hot meal
• With a hot meal inside me, I began to feel better.
a delicious meal
• ‘It was a delicious meal,’ Merrill said politely.
a heavy meal
(= with a lot of rich food )
• A heavy meal is likely to make you feel sleepy.
a light meal
(= with not a lot of food )
• a light meal of salad
a simple meal
• a simple meal of soup and bread
a balanced meal
(= with some of each type of food, to keep you healthy )
• We make healthy, balanced meals for our children.
a full meal
(= a complete meal )
• I’m not hungry enough to eat a full meal.
a healthy meal
• Healthy meals can still be quick and easy to prepare.
a school meal
(= provided by a school )
• Many of the children are receiving free school meals.
regular meals
(= ones that are eaten at the same time each day )
• Patients are advised to eat regular meals.
COMMON ERRORS
>>> Do not say 'take a meal' . Say have a meal .
transnet.ir
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general::
noun ADJ. big, filling, heavy I always want to go to sleep after a heavy meal. | slap-up | lavish, sumptuous | square, substantial She hadn't had a square meal for days. | light, simple The bar serves light meals. | meagre a meagre meal of bread and cheese | four-course, three-course, etc. | appetizing, decent, delicious, excellent, lovely, tasty Thanks for a delicious meal. | balanced, healthy, nourishing, wholesome | main When do you have your main meal of the day? | evening, midday | hot Hot meals are not available after 10 o'clock. | vegetarianNOTEmealseat, have, take (formal)~ Have you had breakfast?grab, snatch ~ I'm so busy I have to snatch meals when I can.ask sb to ~have/invite/take sb for/to ~come/go for/to ~ He wouldn't have asked her to supper if he didn't like her, she reasoned.These verbs are often used with around, out, over and round: We must have you over for dinner sometime. Let's go out for a meal.be out to lunch He's out to lunch with a client.stop for ~ We stopped for tea at the Ritz.join sb for, stay for/to ~ You're sure you wont stay for tea?sit down to, start ~finish ~ We had just sat down to breakfast when the phone rang.skip ~ I sometimes skip lunch if we're very busy.cook (sb), fix (sb), get ready, make (sb), prepare ~ She hurried downstairs to fix herself some breakfast.have ~ ready We'll have supper ready for you.serve ~ Lunch is served from noon till 3.keep warm, warm up ~ I'll be home late, so keep my dinner warm.provide, provide sb (with) ~ Dinner is provided in the superb hotel restaurant.~ be available A four course dinner is available by prior arrangement.~ be ready ‘Breakfast's ready!’ shouted Christine.~ time The family was always noisy at meal times.at/during/over ~ Nobody spoke during supper.for ~ What did you have for lunch?~ of a breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup
Oxford Collocations Dictionary