Definition

1. Verb (past tense and past participle of deal)
   • To have distributed or given out: "dealt" refers to the action of distributing something, such as cards in a game or goods in a transaction.
   • To have handled or managed: "dealt" can mean to have taken action to resolve a situation or problem.
   • To have engaged in business or trade: "dealt" indicates having conducted commercial transactions or negotiations.

Usage Examples

• Distribution:
  • The dealer dealt the cards to all players. (The distributor gave out the playing cards to everyone.)
• Handling a problem:
  • She dealt with the customer's complaint quickly. (She managed and resolved the issue effectively.)
• Business transaction:
  • He dealt in rare books for many years. (He bought and sold valuable books as a trade.)

Advanced Usage

• "dealt a blow": to have caused significant harm or setback.
  • The news dealt a blow to his confidence. (The information severely damaged his self-assurance.)
• "dealt with": to have taken action regarding a matter.
  • The committee dealt with the budget proposal yesterday. (The group addressed and processed the financial plan.)
• "dealt out": to have distributed or administered (often punishment or justice).
  • The judge dealt out harsh sentences to the criminals. (The judge imposed severe punishments.)

Variants and Related Words

• Deal (verb, present tense): to distribute, handle, or trade.
  • I deal with customer inquiries daily. (I manage customer questions every day.)
• Dealer (noun): a person who distributes cards or sells goods.
  • The car dealer offered a discount. (The seller of cars provided a price reduction.)
• Dealing (noun): the act of trading or behaving in a certain way.
  • Fair dealing is important in business. (Honest behavior is essential in commerce.)

Synonyms

• Distributed: gave out items to multiple recipients.
• Managed: took control of a situation.
• Traded: engaged in buying and selling.

Phrasal Verbs

• Dealt with: handled or addressed.
  • He dealt with the paperwork efficiently. (He completed the documents quickly.)
• Dealt in: traded or specialized in.
  • She dealt in antique furniture. (She bought and sold old furniture.)
• Dealt out: distributed or gave to others.
  • The teacher dealt out the test papers. (The teacher handed out the examination sheets.)

Related Idioms

• Dealt a hand: given a specific set of circumstances (like in card games).
  • Life dealt her a difficult hand, but she persevered. (Life gave her challenging conditions, but she continued.)
• Dealt from the bottom of the deck: acted dishonestly or unfairly.
  • He felt he was dealt from the bottom of the deck in the negotiation. (He believed he was treated unfairly in the discussion.)