make a meal (out) of (something)

1. To prepare and eat some food and consider it a full meal, even though it may not resemble a traditional meal. I haven't had a chance to go to the grocery store, but we can probably make a meal out of whatever's left in the fridge. Back in college, we often made a meal of crackers and peanut butter—it was all we could afford!

2. To do more work than is necessary when completing some task. I just need a rough summary of the numbers for the report—don't make a meal out of it.

make a meal of something

1. to eat something. The cat made a meal of the fish. They made a meal of the roast beef and enjoyed it very much.

2. to eat enough of something to consider it or have it as a full meal. I really don't want to make a meal of lettuce alone. Can we make a meal of this turkey, or should we save some for sandwiches?

make a meal of something

make a meal out of something

mainly BRITISH

If someone makes a meal of something or makes a meal out of it, they spend too much time or energy on it. He's only been asked to write a brief essay but he's making such a meal of it. Only spend an hour or so on the task — don't make a meal out of it.

make a meal of

treat a task or occurrence with more attention or care than necessary, especially for effect. British informal

1961 Colin Willock Death in Covert Dyson… was making a meal of everything. He had carefully paced the distance…He had stuck sticks in the ground.

make a ˈmeal of/out of something

(informal) do something with more effort and care than it really needs; treat something as more serious than it really is: Just write her a short note — don’t make a meal of it. It’s only a small mistake. There’s no need to make such a meal out of it, is there? OPPOSITE: make nothing of something (1)

See also: make, meal, of, out, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

See also:

make a meal of
make a meal of something
make a meal of/out of something
eat out
serve (something) for (something or some reason)
serve for
table talk
a square meal
square meal
square meal, a

词组	make a meal (out) of (something)
释义	make a meal (out) of (something) make a meal (out) of (something) 1. To prepare and eat some food and consider it a full meal, even though it may not resemble a traditional meal. I haven't had a chance to go to the grocery store, but we can probably make a meal out of whatever's left in the fridge. Back in college, we often made a meal of crackers and peanut butter—it was all we could afford! 2. To do more work than is necessary when completing some task. I just need a rough summary of the numbers for the report—don't make a meal out of it. See also: make, meal, of Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. make a meal of something 1. to eat something. The cat made a meal of the fish. They made a meal of the roast beef and enjoyed it very much. 2. to eat enough of something to consider it or have it as a full meal. I really don't want to make a meal of lettuce alone. Can we make a meal of this turkey, or should we save some for sandwiches? See also: make, meal, of McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. make a meal of something or make a meal out of something mainly BRITISH If someone makes a meal of something or makes a meal out of it, they spend too much time or energy on it. He's only been asked to write a brief essay but he's making such a meal of it. Only spend an hour or so on the task — don't make a meal out of it. See also: make, meal, of, something Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. make a meal of treat a task or occurrence with more attention or care than necessary, especially for effect. British informal 1961 Colin Willock Death in Covert Dyson… was making a meal of everything. He had carefully paced the distance…He had stuck sticks in the ground. See also: make, meal, of Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary make a ˈmeal of/out of something (informal) do something with more effort and care than it really needs; treat something as more serious than it really is: Just write her a short note — don’t make a meal of it. It’s only a small mistake. There’s no need to make such a meal out of it, is there? OPPOSITE: make nothing of something (1) See also: make, meal, of, out, something Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: make a meal of make a meal of something make a meal of/out of something eat out serve (something) for (something or some reason) serve for table talk a square meal square meal square meal, a
随便看	have it made in the shade have it off/away with somebody have it off (with someone) have it (one's) way have it on good authority have it on (one's) toes have it on your toes have it out have it out for (one) have it out with somebody have it out (with someone) have it out with someone have it over have its/(one's) day have its/(one's) moments have it/that coming have it that (something) Have it your way have jack-shit have jam on it have just one oar in the water have kangaroos in (one's)/the top paddock have kangaroos in the top paddock have kangaroos in your top paddock have/keep a clear head