dry the dishes

Meaning

To dry the dishes means to remove water from plates, cups, pots, and utensils after they have been washed. This is usually done using a clean dish towel or by letting them sit on a drying rack.

Examples

• If you wash the plates, I will dry the dishes and put them away.

  If you wash the plates, I will dry the dishes and put them away.

• Use this clean towel to dry the dishes before putting them in the cupboard.

  Use this clean towel to dry the dishes before putting them in the cupboard.

• I don't like to dry the dishes by hand; I prefer to let them air-dry.

  I don't like to dry the dishes by hand; I prefer to let them air-dry.

• Can you help me dry the dishes so we can finish cleaning up faster?

  Can you help me dry the dishes so we can finish cleaning up faster?

• He was busy drying the dishes when the phone rang.

  He was busy drying the dishes when the phone rang.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I will make the dishes dry with this paper.

  ✓ I will dry the dishes with this towel.

  English uses the verb 'dry' directly with 'dishes' ('dry the dishes') rather than 'make the dishes dry'.

• ✗ Use a wet towel to dry the dishes.

  ✓ Use a dry towel to dry the dishes.

  A wet towel cannot absorb water; you must use a dry dish towel to dry plates and cups.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Here is a clean tea towel so you can ___.

  💡 Remove water from the washed plates and cups.

  Show answer

  dry the dishes

• I washed everything, but I still need to ___ and put them in the cabinet.

  💡 The step after washing plates.

  Show answer

  dry the dishes