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dish out

B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To give a lot of something to people, like food on a plate or criticism.

Literal meaning: To take food off a dish and serve it out to others.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To serve or distribute food to people.

"He stood at the counter dishing out soup to the homeless shelter visitors."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To give out criticism, punishment, or advice freely and often harshly.

"The coach was quick to dish out criticism but never praised the players."

"He can dish it out, but he sure can't take it."

— Common idiom, widely attributed to various American films and political commentary of the 1930s–40s
Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To distribute money or resources to others.

"The government began dishing out emergency funds to flood victims."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Very common in both literal (food) and figurative (criticism, punishment, advice) senses. The figurative use often has a negative connotation — e.g. dishing out punishment. The phrase 'can dish it out but can't take it' is a fixed expression.

Commonly used with

criticism punishment advice food money abuse

Forms

Base
dish out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dishes out
he/she/it
Past simple
dished out
yesterday
Past participle
dished out
have + pp
-ing form
dishing out
continuous

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Synonyms

hand out dole out serve up distribute dispense mete out

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