why to?

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yunus  #223302  Sun, 07 May 06 05:44 PM

I treated myself to a big dinner.

I didn't understand to in above the sentence, i disputed it, although I found in dictionary,

i treated myself a big dinner seems to be well for me. if we need to why not before myself?

could anyone clear up it to me?

  
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Marius Hancu  #223308  Sun, 07 May 06 06:01 PM
this is how the idiom works in this case, simple as that.

think of
to=with
in this context

it's like inviting yourself to a nice place (restaurant, etc) and enjoying it

to treat
to provide (as another person) gratuitously with food, drink, entertainment, or some other source of enjoyment or gratification especially as a compliment, gesture of kindness, or bribe -- usually used with to <he treated her to a strawberry soda> (2) : to provide (oneself) with a similar source of enjoyment or gratification -- usually used with to <treated herself to a new mink coat> c : to provide with something that is or is held (as in irony or for amusement) to be a source of pleasure or gratification <the Americans were treated to a remarkable display as the Tripolitan ship blew up -- C.S.Forester> <when he punished he treated the culprit to ten minutes of biting irony first -- Storm Jameson>
M-W unabridged
  
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