title: python no lambda - sort dictionary on value
body: <p>To sort a dictionary on values, all the answers I found use a lambda. Is it possible to use a function? I can't seem to get the values passed correctly.</p>
  <pre><code>sales = {
      'north': 2,
      'south': 6,
      'east': 8,
      'west': 7,
  }
  
  def get_value(collection,key):    # substitue for lambda x: x[1]
      return collection.get(key)
  
  print(sales)
  #sort_sales = sorted(sales.items(), key=lambda x: x[1])   # uses lambda
  sort_sales = sorted(sales.items(), get_value( sales,sales.items() ) )
  print(sort_sales)
  </code></pre>