# dish out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dish-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to give things to a lot of people, or to give out a lot of something like advice or criticism.

For teachers: to distribute something, often in large quantities or in a casual, indiscriminate manner; frequently used figuratively for non-material things like punishment or opinions.

## Examples

- The teacher started to dish out the exam papers.
- He is always happy to dish out advice, even when nobody asks him for it.
- The judge was known for dishing out harsh sentences to repeat offenders to deter further criminal activity in the city.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He dished the advice out." but "He dished out the advice." — while technically optional, 'dish out' is most commonly used as a unit before the object, especially with abstract nouns.

## Usage notes

- often used when the speaker thinks the distribution is excessive or careless.
- Teaching tip: the literal origin refers to serving food from a large dish; use this image to help students understand the 'giving out' motion.

---

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.