treat (someone or something) like (someone or something else)

treat (someone or something) like (someone or something else)

To consider, regard, or deal with someone or something in a certain manner or as if they or it were a certain type of person or thing. I decided to leave the job—I'd had enough of being treated like an amateur by my boss. We've got to treat these like credible threats until we have proof otherwise.See also: like, something, treat

treat someone or something like someone or something

to deal with someone or something as if the person or thing were really someone, a type of a person, or something. I like him. He treats me like a king. He treats Jane like Mary—he ignores them both.See also: like, treat