wash the dishes

Meaning

This expression means to clean the plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery used during a meal. It can refer to doing this by hand in the sink or using a dishwasher machine.

Examples

• It's your turn to wash the dishes tonight.

  It's your turn to wash the dishes tonight.

• I usually wash the dishes right after I finish eating.

  I usually wash the dishes right after I finish eating.

• She hates to wash the dishes, so she bought a dishwasher.

  She hates to wash the dishes, so she bought a dishwasher.

• Can you help me wash the dishes? I'll dry them.

  Can you help me wash the dishes? I'll dry them.

• He was washing the dishes when the phone suddenly rang.

  He was washing the dishes when the phone suddenly rang.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to make the dishes.

  ✓ I need to wash the dishes.

  We do not use the verb 'make' for cleaning tasks. Use 'wash' or 'do'.

• ✗ She is washing the plates.

  ✓ She is washing the dishes.

  While 'plates' is grammatically fine, 'dishes' is the natural collective term for all items (cups, forks, pots) cleaned after a meal.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you cook dinner, I will ___.

  💡 Clean the plates and cutlery after a meal.

  Show answer

  wash the dishes

• Don't leave the sink full; please ___ now.

  💡 Clean the dirty plates.

  Show answer

  wash the dishes