treat (redirected from treats)

*case of something 

1. an instance of something. (*Typically: be ~; have ~.) This is a case of police brutality. They should not have injured the suspect.

2. an occurrence of a disease. (*Typically: be ~; look like ~; treat ~.) I am suffering from a case of the flu.

See also: case

Dutch treat

a social occasion where one pays for oneself. (Viewed by some as insulting to the Dutch.) "It's nice of you to ask me out to dinner," she said, "but could we make it a Dutch treat?" The office outing is always a Dutch treat.

See also: Dutch

handle someone with kid gloves

Fig. to be very careful with a touchy person. Bill has become so sensitive. You really have to handle him with kid gloves. You don't have to handle me with kid gloves. I can take it.

See also: glove, handle, kid

How's the world (been) treating you?

Inf. How are you? Hi, Jane. How's the world treating you? How's the world been treating you, Bill?

See also: world

stand someone to a treat

to pay for a treat for someone. Come on. Let's go out and eat. I'll stand you to a treat. It seems as if I am always standing someone to a treat.

See also: stand

treat someone or something as something

to deal with someone or something as something. Please don't treat me as a guest. You treat the editorial board as a needless barrier.

treat someone or something like someone or something

to deal with someone or something as if the person or thing were really someone, a type of a person, or something. I like him. He treats me like a king. He treats Jane like Mary—he ignores them both.

See also: like

treat someone (for something) (with something)

to attempt to cure someone's illness, injury, or disease with something. The doctor treated me for the flu with aspirin. It didn't work, but it was cheap. They treated him for his broken bones. Ann treated him with the appropriate therapy.

treat someone to something

to provide and pay for something for someone as a gift or as entertainment. I will be delighted to treat you to dinner. After the play, they treated themselves to pie and coffee.

trick or treat

Give me a treat of some kind or I will play a trick on you! (The formulaic expression said by children after they ring someone's doorbell and the door is answered on Halloween. It is now understood to mean simply that the child is requesting a treat of some kind—candy, fruit, popcorn, etc.) "Trick or treat!" cried Jimmy when the door opened. Mr. Franklin opened the door to find four very small children dressed like flowers standing silently on his doorstep. After a moment, he said, "Isn't anyone going to say 'Trick or treat'?"

See also: trick

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a Dutch treat

an occasion when two or more people agree to share the cost of something, especially a meal She and Callahan often met for lunch. It was always a Dutch treat.

See also: Dutch

go down a treat  (British & Australian)

if something goes down a treat, people enjoy it very much His animal impressions went down a treat with the children. A cup of tea would go down a treat.

handle/treat somebody with kid gloves

to be very polite or kind to someone who is important or easily upset because you do not want to make them angry or upset

Usage notes: Kid gloves are gloves made from very soft leather which would feel very soft if someone touched you with them.

Linda can be a very difficult woman - you've really got to handle her with kid gloves.

See also: glove, handle, kid

treat somebody like dirt

to behave badly towards someone in a way that shows that you do not respect them I don't know why she stays with him. He treats her like dirt.

See also: dirt, like

treat somebody like muck  (informal)

to treat someone without respect or kindness Mick treats his girlfriend like muck, but she's crazy about him.

See handle with kid gloves, work a treat

See also: like, muck

work a treat  (British & Australian informal)

to be very effective If you want to get rid of that wine stain, put some salt on it, it works a treat.

See also: work

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treat somebody like dirt

to deal with someone in a manner that shows no respect for them If you treat your customers like dirt, they won't come back to your shop.

See also: dirt, like

treat somebody with kid gloves also handle somebody with kid gloves

to deal with someone very gently or carefully While he treated writers with kid gloves, he was unpleasant to everyone else.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of kid gloves (gloves made of very soft, smooth leather)

See also: glove, kid