dish-washer

A dish-washer bird hops along the riverbank.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who washes dishes: "dish-washer" refers to an individual whose job or task is to clean dishes, glasses, and utensils, typically in a restaurant or kitchen setting.
   • A machine that washes dishes: More commonly, "dish-washer" denotes an automatic appliance designed to clean dishes and cookware using water, detergent, and mechanical action.
   • A bird (colloquial): In certain informal or regional usage, "dish-washer" can refer to the pied wagtail (Motacilla alba), a small bird often found near water, known for its bobbing tail movement that resembles washing motions.

Usage Examples

• Person:

  • She works as a dish-washer at the local restaurant to pay for her studies. (A person employed to wash dishes.)
  • The dish-washer scrubbed every plate until it was spotless. (A person performing manual cleaning.)

• Machine:

  • We bought a new dish-washer because the old one broke down. (An automatic appliance for washing dishes.)
  • Load the dish-washer with the dirty plates and run it after dinner. (The machine used for cleaning dishes.)

• Bird:

  • A dish-washer hopped along the riverbank, wagging its tail. (The pied wagtail bird.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a dish-washer": to hold a low-level, often thankless job in the culinary industry.

  • He started as a dish-washer and worked his way up to head chef. (He began in the most basic kitchen role.)

• "to run the dish-washer": to operate the appliance for cleaning dishes.

  • Please run the dish-washer before the guests arrive. (Activate the machine to wash the dishes.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dishwasher (n): a common spelling variant, same meaning as the machine or person.

  • The dishwasher is full of clean glasses. (The appliance is loaded.)

• Dishwashing (n): the act of washing dishes, either by hand or machine.

  • Dishwashing is a tedious chore. (The activity of cleaning dishes.)

Synonyms

• Scullion (n): a historical term for a servant who washes dishes.

  • The scullion worked tirelessly in the castle kitchen. (A dish-washer in olden times.)

• Wash-up (n): informal term for the act of washing dishes.

  • I'll do the wash-up after dinner. (I will clean the dishes.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Wash up: to clean dishes after a meal (often used with "the dishes").
  • She washed up all the pots and pans. (She cleaned the cooking utensils.)

Related Idioms

• To be in the dish-washer: to be in a difficult or messy situation (informal, humorous).

  • After the party, the kitchen was a disaster — I was in the dish-washer for hours. (I was stuck cleaning up a huge mess.)

• To come out of the dish-washer: to emerge clean and refreshed (rare, metaphorical).

  • After a good night's sleep, he felt like he had come out of a dish-washer. (He felt completely renewed.)