Meaning Of Idiom ‘Raw Deal’
To get a raw deal means to be treated unfairly, poorly, or cruelly. 1Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.,2Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,3Definition of raw deal in Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. HarperCollins Publishers. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/a-raw-deal
A ‘raw deal refers’ to any such instance of unfair or harsh treatment. 4Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008. The idiom is often paired with get or have.
The phrase ‘what a raw deal‘ is often used to describe unfairness.
Sentence Examples
“As usual, black voters are getting a raw deal from a candidate that makes promises he will never keep.”
“What a raw deal. I can’t go on the trip because I have to work.”
“You really got a raw deal in the marriage settlement. I can’t believe she got to keep the house.”
“Look, now, maybe you got a raw deal but sometimes we need to put the past behind us and look towards the future, you know? — Zookeeper (2011)
“If anybody got a raw deal, it was the American Indian. America has a black mark on its soul for what happened to them.” — Nurse Betty (2000)
“Listen, when it comes to men and women, men get a raw deal. For centuries, we’ve been keeling over 15 years before our wives and all because of all the stress in the work place, right?” — 100 Girls (2000)
“You’ve shown everything to your lawyers?” “They keep telling me I’m getting a raw deal. It isn’t true. Stephen’s been very generous.” — The Women (1939)
“Everybody’s always giving Roman a raw deal. He’s my brother. I’m not gonna do that.” — Possession (2009)
“…She walks around like some victim; like life just handed her a raw deal.” — 28 Days (2000)
Origin
Used since at least the late 1800s, this idiom uses raw in the sense of crude or unfinished (an extension of uncooked), and thus, not very good or fair.