deal out
B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To give things out to a group of people, like sharing cards in a game, or to give someone a punishment.
Literal meaning: To send something outward by dealing/distributing it.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To distribute items, especially playing cards, among a group of people.
"She dealt out the cards evenly so that each player had seven."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
formal
To inflict or impose something, especially punishment or damage, on someone.
"The judge dealt out harsh sentences to all three defendants."
"He could deal out death and destruction with the best of them."
— George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996)
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Used in both literal contexts (card games) and figurative ones (dealing out justice or punishment). The figurative use often appears in formal or literary writing.
Commonly used with
cards punishment justice damage rewards sentences
Forms
Base
deal out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
deals out
he/she/it
Past simple
dealt out
yesterday
Past participle
dealt out
have + pp
-ing form
dealing out
continuous
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Synonyms
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