mete out

/mit aʊt/

/mɪt aʊt/

Other forms: metes out

To mete out is to distribute, the way you mete out scoops of ice cream one at a time, to make sure all your friends end up with the same amount.

When you take your dog out on a leash, you probably mete out her treats, making them last for the whole walk. Another way to mete something out is to administer a disciplinary measure or justice: "The gym teacher tended to mete out punishment by making everyone do pushups." This phrase comes from mete, "to allot," from a root meaning "to measure out" or "to take appropriate measures."

Definitions of mete out

1. verb

   administer or bestow, as in small portions
   synonyms: administer, allot, deal, deal out, dish out, dispense, distribute, dole, dole out, lot, mete, parcel out, shell out

   types:

   allot, assign, portion

   give out

   reallot

   allot again

   deal

   distribute cards to the players in a game

   apply, give

   give or convey physically

   allow, appropriate, earmark, reserve, set aside

   give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause

   allocate, apportion

   distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose

   misdeal

   deal cards wrongly

   tread

   apply (the tread) to a tire

   administer

   perform (a church sacrament) ritually

   type of:

   give

   transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody