(one) can dish it out, but (one) can't take it
One is able to voice harsh thoughts, criticisms, or insults toward others, but does not like being the recipient of such treatment. You were all over your sister about her eating habits, but you start pouting when I point out that you had a cupcake for dinner last night! What, you can dish it out, but you can't take it? She's always so quick to mock you when you make a mistake, but she throws a total hissy fit when you call her out on something she's done wrong. She can dish it out, but she clearly can't take it. I'm not surprised the bully backed down when you confronted him. Bullies usually can dish it out, but they can't take it.
a real dish
slang Someone who is very attractive. Most often used in reference to females. Wow, that girl's a real dish! But she'd never go out with a dork like me. Raj's new girlfriend is a real dish. Actually, she even said she used to be a model! A: "Check out that girl over at the bar—a real dish, right?" B: "Whoa, she's stunning."
dish
slang
1. verb To gossip. Did Tom really quit? Dish, sister! Those popular girls are always dishing the dirt on someone in our class. Oh please, I know you're the one who dished about me and started those awful rumors!
2. verb To chat. Come on in, we're just sitting here dishing. I know, it's been way too long since we got together and just dished for a while. If you two have time to dish at the reception desk, you have time to file this paperwork for me.
3. noun Someone who is very attractive. Most often used in reference to females. Wow, that girl's a real dish! But she'd never go out with a dork like me. A: "Check out that dish over at the bar." B: "Whoa, she's stunning." Dude, you can't go up to a total dish like her with some corny pick-up-line and expect that to work.
dish it out
To voice harsh thoughts, criticisms, or insults. You were all over your sister about her eating habits, but you start pouting when I point out that you had a cupcake for dinner last night! What, you can only dish it out? I'm not surprised the bully backed down when you confronted him. Bullies typically can only dish it out. She's always so quick to mock you when you make a mistake, but she throws a total hissy fit when you call her out on something she's done wrong. She can dish it out, but she clearly can't take it.
dish on (someone or something)
slang To gossip about someone or something. Those popular girls are always dishing on someone in our class. Get over here so I can dish on Tom quitting! Oh please, I know you're the one who dished on my relationship and started those awful rumors!
dish out
1. To distribute prepared food, especially using a utensil to serve it onto or into individual dishes. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dish" and "out." We should get back to our table—the servers have started dishing out the food. Mom, do you mind dishing out some baby food for Joey? OK, kids, bring me your plates so I can dish out the spaghetti.
2. By extension, to dispense something, often verbally. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dish" and "out." Ross is better at dishing out criticism than receiving it himself. That professor is a much harder grader this semester—he must have gotten in trouble for dishing out too many A's. I'm not surprised the bully backed down when you confronted him. Bullies typically can only dish out threats.
dish out (the) dirt
slang To dispense or discuss scandalous gossip or intimate information (about someone or something). The reality television star has been wasting no time since leaving the show to dish out dirt on his former co-stars in interviews and on talk shows. Her new book dishes out the dirt about her marriage to the rock 'n' roll legend. A: "Did Tom really quit?" B: "Yes! Get over here so I can dish out the dirt!"
dish the dirt
slang To gossip about someone or something. Those popular girls are always dishing the dirt on someone in our class. I know, it's been way too long since we got together and dished the dirt. Get over here so I can dish the dirt on Tom quitting!
dish the dirt on (someone or something)
slang To gossip about someone or something. Those popular girls are always dishing the dirt on someone in our class. Get over here so I can dish the dirt on Tom quitting! Oh please, I know you're the one who dished on my relationship and started those awful rumors!
dish up
1. To distribute food into bowls or onto plates to serve to others. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dish" and "up." OK, everyone take your seats. I'm just about ready to start dishing up the stew! Please take the casserole out of the oven and start dishing it up. OK, kids, bring me your plates so I can dish up the spaghetti.
2. To create something for a lot of people to enjoy or consume. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dish" and "up." The movie studio is known for dishing up the same kinds of schlocky horror movies. You need to dish up a winning team in this city, or the fans will boo the players you do put out there. That comedian dishes up the same commentary on the mundane as everyone else out there—only, it's not funny.
dishrag
A very weak-willed, helpless, or cowardly person; one who lacks any real resolve, inner-strength, or motivation. My father was a sweet man, but he was a total dishrag in all other aspects of life, bending to the will of everyone around him. I tried to raise you to be strong and independent, not some dishrag who just coasts through life without ambition. The new supervisor seems like a total dishrag. Does he have any control over his team?
do the dishes
To wash plates, glasses, bowls, silverware etc. with soap and water. Since you cooked dinner, I'll clear the table and do the dishes. I knew I should do the dishes before going to bed, but I was too tired to bother. A: "Jerry, I asked you to do the dishes an hour ago, and they're still piled in the sink!" B: "Oops, I'm sorry, honey. I'll do them right now."
if you can't take it, (then) don't dish it out
If you don't want to hear someone else's harsh criticisms, gibes, or insults, then don't say those kinds of things to them. You were all over your sister about her eating habits, but you start pouting when I point out that you had a cupcake for dinner last night! If you can't take it, don't dish it out. You know, people might criticize you after you criticize them. So if you can't take it, then don't dish it out. Well, then, don't tease your brother like that then! If you can't take it, don't dish it out!
limp dishrag
1. A very weak willed, helpless, or cowardly person; one who lacks any real resolve, inner-strength, or motivation. My father was a sweet man, but he was a limp dishrag in all other aspects of life, bending to the will of everyone around him. I tried to raise you to be strong and independent, not some limp dishrag who just coasts through life without ambition. The new supervisor has been as effective at controlling his team as a limp dishrag.
2. One who is completely worn out or without energy. Between my hectic job and trying to mind the kids, I always feel like a limp dish rag by the time I get to bed at night. My dad used to work crazy long hours when we were kids, and he would just sit on the sofa like a limp dishrag on the weekends.
limp rag
1. A very weak willed, helpless, or cowardly person; one who lacks any real resolve, inner-strength, or motivation. My father was a sweet man, but he was a limp rag in all other aspects of life, bending to the will of everyone around him. I tried to raise you to be strong and independent, not some limp rag who just coasts through life without ambition. The new supervisor has been as effective at controlling his team as a limp rag.
2. One who is completely worn out or without energy. Between my hectic job and trying to mind the kids, I always feel like a limp dish rag by the time I get to bed at night. My dad used to work crazy long hours when we were kids, and he would just sit on the sofa like a limp rag on the weekends.
Revenge is a dish best eaten cold.
Revenge that takes place far in the future, after the offending party has forgotten how they wronged someone, is much more satisfying. I never forgot the way he bullied and humiliated me in high school, but I chose to bide my time. Ten years later, my global corporation bought his family's puny company and exploited it for everything it was worth, leaving him penniless. It's true what they say—revenge is a dish best eaten cold.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Revenge that takes place far in the future, after the offending party has forgotten how they wronged someone, is much more satisfying. I never forgot the way he bullied and humiliated me in high school, but I chose to bide my time. Ten years later, my global corporation bought his family's puny company and exploited it for everything it was worth, leaving him penniless. It's true what they say—revenge is a dish best served cold.
wet dishrag
1. A very weak willed, helpless, or cowardly person; one who lacks any real resolve, inner-strength, or motivation. My father was a sweet man, but he was a wet dishrag in all other aspects of life, bending to the will of everyone around him. I tried to raise you to be strong and independent, not some wet dishrag who just coasts through life without ambition. The new supervisor has been as effective at controlling his team as a wet dishrag.
2. One who is completely worn out or without energy. Between my hectic job and trying to mind the kids, I always feel like a wet dish rag by the time I get to bed at night. My dad used to work crazy long hours when we were kids, and he would just sit on the sofa like a wet dishrag on the weekends.
wet rag
1. A very weak willed, helpless, or cowardly person; one who lacks any real resolve, inner-strength, or motivation. My father was a sweet man, but he was a wet rag in all other aspects of life, bending to the will of everyone around him. I tried to raise you to be strong and independent, not some wet rag who just coasts through life without ambition. The new supervisor has been as effective at controlling his team as a wet rag.
2. One who is completely worn out or without energy. Between my hectic job and trying to mind the kids, I always feel like a wet dish rag by the time I get to bed at night. My dad used to work crazy long hours when we were kids, and he would just sit on the sofa like a wet rag on the weekends.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.