Giving and taking criticism

Two ordinary verbs in this list lead a second life. Einstecken is what you do with your keys and your phone before leaving the house: you put them in your pocket, and a plug is eingesteckt too. In a disagreement the same verb means taking a blow without hitting back — criticism, a defeat, a jibe. Its partner austeilen splits the same way: it hands out cards, soup or leaflets, and in a meeting it hands out criticism. Together they make a saying you will hear whenever someone sharp-tongued suddenly takes offence: Wer austeilt, muss auch einstecken können. The object usually settles which meaning is meant. Das Handy einstecken is housekeeping; viel einstecken müssen is a bad afternoon. Both verbs are separable, so the particle waits at the end of the clause: Sie steckt viel ein, aber sie teilt auch aus. Most of the other words here aim to make neither necessary.