cater

cater to (someone or something)

1. To assist or provide something to a person or business. As a personal assistant, I cater to busy professionals who need help managing their lives. That company couldn't cater to our high-volume printing needs, so we had to go with someone else. This cleaning company has a lot of experience doing office buildings—that's what they cater to, really.

2. To give special treatment or consideration to someone, perhaps to an excessive degree. They're our biggest account, so we usually end up catering to them to make sure they're completely satisfied with the service. My sister has been catering to my every whim ever since I caught her sneaking in past curfew. Because movie execs want to make as much money as possible, they try to cater to as many people as possible—and end up releasing watered-down drivel as a result.

See also: cater, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

cater to someone or something

 

1. Lit. to provide for or care for someone or something. I believe that we can cater to you in this matter. Our company caters to larger firms that do not wish to maintain a service department.

2. Fig. to provide special or favorable treatment for someone or something. I'm sorry, but I cannot cater to you and not to the others. We do not have the time to cater to special requests.

See also: cater, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.