preparar la comida

to make dinner

to make lunch

preparar la comida(preh-pah-rahr lah koh-mee-dah)

intransitive verb phrase

1. (to cook the main meal)

(Latin America)

a. to make dinner

Son ya las 8 pm y nosotros todavía tenemos que preparar la comida.

It's already 8 pm and we still have to make dinner.

b. to prepare dinner

Lo que podemos hacer es preparar la comida antes de irnos al cine.

What we can do is to prepare dinner before we go to the movies.

c. to get dinner ready

Vamos a sentarnos, que mi esposo prepara la comida en un santiamén.

Let's sit down. My husband will get dinner ready in no time at all.

2. (to cook the midday meal)

(Mexico)

(Spain)

a. to make lunch

Os preparé la comida y la dejé en el congelador. Solo tenéis que ponerla en el microondas.

I made your lunch and left it in the freezer. You just have to pop it in the microwave.

b. to prepare lunch

Mi madre trabaja fuera de casa y normalmente prepara la comida el día antes.

My mother goes out to work, and she normally prepares lunch the day before.

c. to get lunch ready

¿Quieren un aperitivo mientras acabo de preparar la comida?

Do you feel like having an appetizer while I finish getting lunch ready?

3. (to do the catering)

a. to do the food

Siempre que hacemos una fiesta, tengo que ocuparme yo de preparar la comida.

Every time we have a party, I have to do the food.