raw deal

raw deal

An unfair situation or poor treatment. Mandy really got a raw deal at that job. They passed her over for so many promotions!
See also: deal, raw
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*raw deal

an instance of unfair or bad treatment. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Mary got a raw deal on her traffic ticket. She was innocent, but she had to pay a big fine. I bought a used TV that worked for two days and then quit. I sure got a raw deal. You sure had a raw deal.
See also: deal, raw
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

raw deal

An instance of unfair or harsh treatment, as in After 25 years with the bank Bob got a raw deal-no pension, no retirement benefits of any kind, just a gold watch. Raw here means "crude" or "unfair." [First half of 1900s]
See also: deal, raw
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a raw (or rough) deal

a situation in which someone receives unfair or harsh treatment. informal
See also: deal, raw
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a raw/rough ˈdeal

unfair treatment: Many old people feel they are getting a raw deal from the state: they pay money towards a pension all their working life but discover it isn’t worth much when they retire.
See also: deal, raw, rough
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a raw deal

n. an unfair deal; unfair treatment. My last job was a raw deal. I hope this is better.
See also: deal, raw
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

raw deal

An instance of unfair treatment: got a raw deal from our insurance company.
See also: deal, raw
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

raw deal, a

Harsh or unfair treatment. The raw in this expression, which originated in America, means “crude.” In 1912 a Canadian dictionary defined the term as “a swindle,” a meaning not much invoked today. E. C. Bentley used the expression in Those Days (1940): “If it was what is known nowadays as a raw deal, they did not mind.”
See also: raw
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a raw deal
  • a raw/rough deal
  • raw deal, a
  • deal
  • a square deal
  • square deal
  • square deal, a
  • deal out
  • take the body
  • it takes two to make a bargain
References in periodicals archive
While Americans sense the raw deal, they have been slower to identify the raw dealer.
Now What?
At the end of her tether, Sandra wrote to Raw Deal and we asked Scottish Power to investigate.
Happy days as firm vows to track bill
The Record View makes the valid point that "the little man" is getting a raw deal while lawyers laugh all the way to the bank.
Do the right thing; Letters.
IT is a common view, true or not, that the younger generation has had a raw deal from the Government since the financial crisis, at least in part because many young people don't bother to vote.
Don't lose a say on future; Letters Write to: Letters, The Journal, Groat Market, Newcastle, NE1 1ED Email: jnl.letters@ncjmedia.co.uk
UNISON members working for West Yorkshire Police have announced a 24-hour strike period over pay as union bosses claim 'they've had a raw deal.'.
Unison police staff vote supports 24-hour strike
Yet one more instance of the Birmingham-based Centro organisation giving the long-suffering operators, drivers and bus passengers in Coventry a very raw deal.
Bus displays are incorrect; Letters
Stockton South Conservative MP James Wharton said: "We keep hearing stories the North gets a raw deal but these figures just do not bear that out."
Town halls facing yet more cuts in funding
* SIR - We read a lot about struggling first-time buyers and social housing improvements, but what about the raw deal that private tenants get?
Fair deal for tenants; & COMMENT DEBATE YOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES
While I sympathise with poor workers who are getting a raw deal, I wish they would exert their intelligence to distinguish between strategies that work from those that do not.
Day of action will not work; Your shout
Macmillan Cancer Support is campaigning for fair hospital parking and wants to hear both the bad and good stories from patients to understand which areas are getting a raw deal and which should be shared with other trusts to benefit more sufferers.
Crusade for fair parking
Which politician claimed British forces get a raw deal over their leave as he met troops in Afghanistan?
news QUIZ
Scarecrows often get a bit of a raw deal in films, and are portrayed as being creepy, so to learn more about the farmers' friend, log on to www.scarecrowland.co.uk.
BRAIN GAIN: WEB LIFE
Aptly titled Bailey's Raw Deal, the autobiography details the misfortunes which have plagued the twice-married author, from an abusive husband, battles with aggressive neighbours and a stalker.
Real Lives: Book full of a city's spirit..
ONE area where punters are getting a raw deal is at those televised meetings where the track bookmakers bet to an above-average percentage and the evening computer forecast formula is not used to generate the returns, such as at Ch854 regular new-boys Peterborough.
Layers to blame over poor 'casts
WE women have always known we get a raw deal in bed.
ANNA SMITH: Yes! Yes! It's unfair