dish out — hand out (criticism, advice, punishment, etc.) freely or in large amounts
to give out something such as criticism, advice, or punishment to a lot of people, often without much thought or restraint
Say it like a native
Textbook He is very willing to give criticism but reluctant to receive it.
Native He loves dishing out criticism but can't take it.
'Dish out' carries the careless, free-handed feel; 'very willing to give criticism' loses that edge.
Pattern: dish out + noun (often criticism, advice, punishment, etc.)
In use
- She’s always quick to dish out advice, even when nobody asks for it.communication
- In some workplaces, managers tend to dish out punishment for minor mistakes, which can create a stressful environment.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He dishes out criticism but he can't take them.
✓ He dishes out criticism but can't take it.
'Criticism' is uncountable — 'take it', not 'take them'.
Common collocations
dish out + criticism/advice— criticism, advice, punishment, praise
Don't confuse it
Unlike the literal sense of 'dish out' (to serve food), this figurative sense is about giving out non-physical things, especially criticism or advice, often in a way that seems excessive or harsh.