# special treatment

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/special-treatment
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A form of exceptional handling or care that differs from the standard, often implying favoritism.

## Examples

- He expects special treatment just because he is the boss.
- The manager gave her special treatment by letting her leave early every Friday, which annoyed the rest of the team.
- While the company claims to value equality, the executive's children clearly receive special treatment regarding promotions and salary increases.

## Origin

The second sense is a calque of German Sonderbehandlung.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.