put on a spread

Meaning

To prepare a large, abundant, and impressive meal or feast for a group of people, usually for a special occasion, party, or gathering. It suggests generosity and a wide variety of food options.

Examples

• My grandmother always puts on a massive spread whenever we visit for Christmas.

  My grandmother always puts on a massive spread whenever we visit for Christmas.

• They really put on a spread for the retirement party, with everything from sushi to sliders.

  They really put on a spread for the retirement party, with everything from sushi to sliders.

• You don't need to put on a spread, just a few pizzas will do for tonight.

  You don't need to put on a spread, just a few pizzas will do for tonight.

• She spent all morning in the kitchen putting on a beautiful spread for her friends.

  She spent all morning in the kitchen putting on a beautiful spread for her friends.

• The hosts put on an amazing spread of cheeses and cured meats.

  The hosts put on an amazing spread of cheeses and cured meats.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She put on a big spread food for the party.

  ✓ She put on a big spread for the party.

  'Spread' already functions as a noun meaning a large meal; adding 'food' after it is redundant.

• ✗ We will make a spread for dinner tonight.

  ✓ We will put on a spread for dinner tonight.

  The standard idiom uses the verb 'put on' (or sometimes 'lay on'), not 'make'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• For her graduation party, her parents decided to ________ of delicious finger foods.

  💡 Prepare a large, impressive variety of food.

  Show answer

  put on a spread

• You really didn't have to ________ just for the two of us!

  💡 Make a huge feast.

  Show answer

  put on a spread