deal with someone

deal with (someone or something)

1. To manage or handle someone or something (usually someone or something unpleasant). The phrase "deal with it" can be used dismissively to leave a task to someone else. I just can't deal with him when gets hysterical like this. I'll deal with the construction problems at the house—you go on ahead to work. A: "Sir, I'm not sure how you want me to handle all these calls." B: "Oh, just deal with it, Jeff."
2. To focus on or include something. Your term paper must deal with the major themes of modernism and link them to your chosen text.
3. To conduct business with someone or something. It's such a pain dealing with that company. They sent us the wrong size T-shirts and then took weeks to issue a refund.
4. To treat someone in a particular way. The owner dealt with me very nicely, so I'll definitely go back to his shop.
5. slang To kill someone. Don't worry, once I deal with the informant, he won't go running to the cops ever again.
See also: deal
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

deal with someone

in. to kill someone. (From the milder expression meaning to cope with or tend to someone.) The agent planned how best to deal with the rebel leader without getting caught.
See also: deal, someone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • deal with
  • deal with (someone or something)
  • deal out
  • square deal
  • square deal, a
  • a square deal
  • make a deal (with one)
  • make a deal with
References in periodicals archive
Meron na akong ka-deal (I have made a deal with someone),' she said.
Ellen Adarna looking for guy with 'good genes' to sire her baby
Adam, 50, said: "To sign a deal with someone of Marco's calibre is just fantastic.
Adam's gin the money
But as she comes to terms with her fears about the potentially life-changing operation, has she got time to deal with someone else's problems as well?
EASTENDERS BBC1
"You cannot reach a deal with someone who tells you 'No'," he said of the Greek government.
Sapin: Greek "No" vote could lead to Grexit, "Yes" to fresh talks
Ask yourselves - do you want to deal with someone who you have a personal and engaging relationship with, or do you want to deal with representatives of a larger national, often faceless, organisation?
Put people back into the business
"I've got a feeling, I may be wrong, that he's already agreed a deal with someone, and it's not Tottenham."
Cole on his way: Harry; SOCCER In Brief
League spokesman John Nagle said: "Should ITV Digital go into liquidation we may be interested in a short-term deal with someone else.''
Football: New deal on cards
Roth is talking to restaurateurs and expects to cut a deal with someone else to operate it, providing more income for the nascent theater.
Union Square to get new theater
Epilepsy Action will launch its Take Epilepsy Action campaign outside the Lush store on Queen Street in the capital today at 10.30am to highlight a lack of knowledge of how to deal with someone having an epileptic fit.
Group seize opportunity to raise awareness
It takes a very special person to deal with someone else's MS.
Mash note
Don't do a deal with someone you don't enjoy having lunch with.
Two-stage deals: a sequenced transition can smooth a firm's ownership transfer
"The car deal with Renault does not preclude us from doing a deal with someone else for commercial vehicles, but from our side if we do partner someone, it will be Renault," he said.
Bajaj denies Renault deal
"Murphy can deal with having his own finger cut off, but he just can't deal with someone else having their finger cut off because of him.
DON'T MISS; MURPHY'S LAW MON-WED, BBC1, 9pm
"The types of owners we are getting in the New York market are buying their property as an investment and they want to deal with someone who has an understanding of the value of the asset--they are less interested in speaking with someone who knows how the boiler works."
Technology takes industry to a whole new level