Distributes about a thousand (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
hands out
'distributes' is the definition.
('hand out' can be a synonym of 'distribute')
'about a thousand' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates an anagram.
'thousand' with letters rearranged gives 'HANDS OUT'.
(Another definition for hands out that I've seen is " Gives".)
I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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