dished out our favorite food

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Angliholic

#501847 Thu, 17 Apr 08 03:08 PM

We were all excited when Mom dished out our favorite food at dinner.

Hi,

Does "dished out" in the above mean "sent out" or "gave out?" Thanks.

Angliholic

Joined on Wed, Feb 14 2007

SomewhereinFormosa

Senior Member (4,668)

Without true love, life is meaningless and worthless since our physical world is nothing but a dream. ~~Angliholic~~簡瑞達

Philip

#501864 Thu, 17 Apr 08 03:39 PM

I would say served. 'Dish out' implies scooping something from one place to another, and it is often negative. [The candidates dished out insult upon insult to each other.]

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (5,560)

If one will scoff at the study of language, how, save in terms of language, will one scoff? - Mario Pei

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Marius Hancu

#501892 Thu, 17 Apr 08 04:37 PM

I agree with Philip. Meaning 2 here is troubling in the context:

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dish out

1 : to serve (food) from a dish : distribute in portions at table <she dished out the chowder>

2 a : GIVE, PROVIDE, RELEASE <dishing out important news releases> <those doctors who dish out opiates at the slightest provocation> b slang : to present in glib, effusive, or exuberant outpourings <that salesman could really dish it out> <you could dish out a memorized spiel -- W.L.Gresham>

http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com

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Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,507)