1
general::
1. Deal out, dispense, as in He dishes out advice to one and all. This expression alludes to serving food from a dish. [Colloquial; first half of 1600s] 2. dish it out. Dispense abuse or punishment, as in He can dish it out with the best of them, but he can't take it. [Slang; c. 1930]
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): dish something out
1. Lit. to serve up food to people. • I’ll dish it out, and you take it to the table. • Careful how you dish out the mashed potatoes. There may not be enough. 2. Fig. to distribute information, news, etc. • The press secretaries were dishing reports out as fast as they could write them. • The company dishes out propaganda on a regular basis. 3. Fig. to give out trouble, scoldings, criticism, etc. • The boss was dishing criticism out this morning, and I really got it. • The teacher dished out a scolding to each one who was involved in the prank.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs