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Vocabulary : Phrasal Verbs : D : dish out (1)

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dish out (1) Informal

Meaning: to give things to people, often without thinking about the effects or the costs of doing so

Synonym: dole out (informal), give out, hand out

For example:

  • dish out sth The college was accused of dishing out degrees to anyone who could pay for them.

  • dish sth out Drug companies want doctors to dish their drugs out to as many people as possible.

Note: This phrasal verb often has a negative connotation. For example, if someone "dishes something out" they could be doing so for their own benefit without thinking about the negative consequences.

Quick Quiz:

The court has been dishing out more jail sentences, so the government will be spending
  1. less on prisons
  2. more on prisons
  3. the usual amount on prisons

Grammar explanation: separable and non-separable phrasal verbs

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