frozen meal

Meaning

A frozen meal is a pre-packaged, fully cooked meal that is frozen to preserve it and requires only heating before eating. It is also commonly referred to as a 'TV dinner' or 'ready meal'. It is a neutral term used when discussing quick, convenient food options.

Examples

• I didn't have time to cook, so I just heated up a frozen meal.

  I didn't have time to cook, so I just heated up a frozen meal.

• The supermarket has an entire aisle dedicated to frozen meals.

  The supermarket has an entire aisle dedicated to frozen meals.

• Some frozen meals are actually quite healthy and low in sodium.

  Some frozen meals are actually quite healthy and low in sodium.

• He lives alone and relies heavily on frozen meals for dinner.

  He lives alone and relies heavily on frozen meals for dinner.

• Always check the microwave instructions on the back of the frozen meal.

  Always check the microwave instructions on the back of the frozen meal.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I bought a freeze meal for dinner.

  ✓ I bought a frozen meal for dinner.

  Use the past participle adjective 'frozen', not the verb 'freeze'.

• ✗ She heats a freezing meal every night.

  ✓ She heats a frozen meal every night.

  'Freezing' means extremely cold or in the process of turning to ice. The food itself is already 'frozen'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• When I was in college, I ate a ___ meal almost every night.

  💡 kept at sub-zero temperatures

  Show answer

  frozen

• Are there any healthy ___ meals in the supermarket?

  💡 adjective describing pre-packaged cold food

  Show answer

  frozen