raw deal
raw deal — idiom
1. a situation where someone is treated worse than they deserve or expect, often af
a situation where someone is treated worse than they deserve or expect, often after putting in effort or showing loyalty
Wren felt they got a raw deal when the promotion went to a newer colleague.
get + a raw deal
Piotr covered every extra shift for a month but still got a raw deal.
Defne believed she got a raw deal after the company passed her over three times.
The night-shift nurses were given a raw deal on holiday pay compared to day staff.
Paloma trained her replacement and then got laid off — a real raw deal.
- unfair shake
also informal; more common in American English
- the short end of the stick
idiomatic; emphasises getting the worse part of a situation
- bum rap
very informal, mainly American; often implies an unjust accusation or punishment
- fair deal
the direct opposite — treatment that is reasonable and just
- square deal
informal; emphasises honesty and even-handedness in an arrangement
用法筆記
Informal expression. Commonly used with verbs get, give, or receive. Always refers to a specific incident of unfairness, not a general condition of being treated poorly over time.