Idioms are colorful phrases that mean something different than the literal words inside them. People use them in everyday speech to make their ideas more vivid and interesting. In this article, you will learn fifty different idioms related to revenge and holding grudges.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean getting payback or evening the score. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Revenge
1. An eye for an eye
Definition: This means punishing someone in the exact same way they hurt you.
Used in a Sentence: She believed in an eye for an eye after her teammate stole her project. / Choosing an eye for an eye often leaves both people hurt.
Similar Expressions: Tit for tat / Measure for measure
2. Pay someone back in their own coin
Definition: This means treating someone the same bad way they treated you.
Used in a Sentence: Mark decided to pay him back in his own coin by hiding his backpack. / You should not pay others back in their own coin.
Similar Expressions: Give as good as one gets / Taste of your own medicine
3. Get even
Definition: This means to take revenge on someone who did you wrong.
Used in a Sentence: He wanted to get even after his brother broke his favorite toy. / Getting even never truly makes you feel better.
Similar Expressions: Score a point / Square accounts
4. Settle a score
Definition: This means to get revenge for an old wrong or injury.
Used in a Sentence: The pirate captain returned to settle a score with his old crew. / It is better to forgive than to settle a score.
Similar Expressions: Clear the ledger / Balance the books
5. Grind an axe
Definition: This means having a personal dispute or a grievance to avenge.
Used in a Sentence: He always seemed to be grinding an axe during team meetings. / She had a personal axe to grind with the manager.
Similar Expressions: Have a bone to pick / Hold a grudge
6. Give someone a taste of their own medicine
Definition: This means treating someone badly in the exact same way they treated you.
Used in a Sentence: Teasing him back gave him a taste of his own medicine. / Giving bullies a taste of their own medicine does not always work.
Similar Expressions: Turn the tables / Serve it back
7. Turn the tables
Definition: This means to reverse a situation so you are now winning or in control over someone who hurt you.
Used in a Sentence: The underdog team turned the tables in the final quarter. / She turned the tables on the gossip by telling the truth.
Similar Expressions: Reverse the situation / Flip the script
8. Pay back
Definition: This means to cause harm to someone because they caused harm to you first.
Used in a Sentence: He vowed to pay back the person who ruined his garden. / Paying back your enemies takes too much energy.
Similar Expressions: Retaliate against / Strike back
9. Wreak havoc
Definition: This means to cause great destruction or trouble out of anger.
Used in a Sentence: The stray dog began to wreak havoc in the kitchen. / He wanted to wreak havoc on his rival’s campaign.
Similar Expressions: Raise Cain / Cause mayhem
10. Nurse a grudge
Definition: This means to keep feeling angry and wanting revenge for a long time.
Used in a Sentence: It is unhealthy to nurse a grudge for years. / She continued to nurse a grudge after the argument.
Similar Expressions: Harbor resentment / Bear a grudge
11. Plot and scheme
Definition: This means to secretly plan a way to get back at someone.
Used in a Sentence: The cartoon villains spent all night plotting and scheming. / She began plotting and scheming after losing the election.
Similar Expressions: Conspire quietly / Plan in secret
12. Bite back
Definition: This means to defend yourself or retaliate sharply after being attacked.
Used in a Sentence: The smaller company decided to bite back against the giant corporation. / Do not let them push you around without biting back.
Similar Expressions: Snap back / Strike back
13. Stab in the back
Definition: This means to betray someone who trusted you, often leading to a desire for revenge.
Used in a Sentence: Finding out her best friend stabbed her in the back made her furious. / A true friend would never stab you in the back.
Similar Expressions: Betray trust / Double cross
14. Take down a peg
Definition: This means to humble someone who is acting too proud or arrogant.
Used in a Sentence: Winning the race helped take him down a peg. / The teacher wanted to take the boastful student down a peg.
Similar Expressions: Humble someone / Bring down to size
15. Dig your own grave
Definition: This means to bring about your own ruin or downfall through foolish actions.
Used in a Sentence: By plotting revenge against the boss, he was digging his own grave. / She dug her own grave by lying to her parents.
Similar Expressions: Ruin yourself / Spell your own doom
16. Reap what you sow
Definition: This means that you will eventually experience the consequences, good or bad, of your actions.
Used in a Sentence: After treating everyone poorly, he finally reaped what he sowed. / Karma ensures that people reap what they sow.
Similar Expressions: Face the music / Lie in the bed you made
17. Have your knife in someone
Definition: This means to be persistently seeking to harm or criticize someone.
Used in a Sentence: It seemed like the coach had his knife in that specific player. / Why do you always have your knife in your younger brother?
Similar Expressions: Out to get someone / Have it in for someone
18. Out for blood
Definition: This means being fiercely angry and determined to punish someone.
Used in a Sentence: The angry fans were out for blood after the unfair referee call. / When he discovered the theft, he was out for blood.
Similar Expressions: Seething with rage / Bent on destruction
19. Blood is thicker than water
Definition: This means family bonds are stronger than other relationships, often overriding revenge desires against kin.
Used in a Sentence: Even though they fought, they remembered blood is thicker than water. / Family loyalty matters because blood is thicker than water.
Similar Expressions: Family ties / Kinship matters
20. Rub salt in the wound
Definition: This means to make someone’s pain or bad situation even worse on purpose.
Used in a Sentence: Reminding her of the lost game was just rubbing salt in the wound. / Do not rub salt in the wound by laughing at his mistake.
Similar Expressions: Add insult to injury / Make matters worse
21. Add insult to injury
Definition: This means to make a bad situation worse with a rude action or comment.
Used in a Sentence: Losing my phone was bad, but missing the bus added insult to injury. / He mocked her outfit, adding insult to injury.
Similar Expressions: Rub salt in the wound / Aggravate the situation
22. Make someone pay
Definition: This means to exact punishment or revenge on someone.
Used in a Sentence: The hero swore he would make the villain pay for his crimes. / She wanted to make her sibling pay for breaking her laptop.
Similar Expressions: Exact retribution / Punish severely
23. Give as good as you get
Definition: This means to defend yourself well and retaliate equally when attacked.
Used in a Sentence: Even though he was small, he could give as good as he got in the debate. / Do not worry about her; she can give as good as she gets.
Similar Expressions: Hold your ground / Stand up to someone
24. Strike back
Definition: This means to attack or retaliate against someone who hurt you.
Used in a Sentence: The kitten tried to strike back at the playful puppy. / The country decided to strike back after the invasion.
Similar Expressions: Counterattack / Retaliate
25. Cook someone’s goose
Definition: This means to ruin someone’s plans or defeat them completely.
Used in a Sentence: Finding the hidden password cooked their goose. / One wrong move will cook your goose in this competition.
Similar Expressions: Ruin someone / Spoil the game
26. Bake your own cake
Definition: This means to face the consequences of your own bad choices.
Used in a Sentence: You baked your own cake, so now you must eat it. / He realized he baked his own cake when the prank backfired.
Similar Expressions: Face consequences / Sleep in the bed you made
27. Come back to bite you
Definition: This means that past bad actions will eventually cause you trouble or revenge.
Used in a Sentence: Being mean to others will eventually come back to bite you. / His past lies came back to bite him during the interview.
Similar Expressions: Haunt you / Catch up with you
28. Throw under the bus
Definition: This means to betray someone for your own benefit, risking their anger.
Used in a Sentence: He threw his partner under the bus to save himself from trouble. / Never throw a teammate under the bus during a project.
Similar Expressions: Betray a friend / Sacrifice someone
29. Play with fire
Definition: This means to do something dangerous that could easily lead to harm or revenge.
Used in a Sentence: Teasing the guard dog is like playing with fire. / He knew he was playing with fire by stealing her notes.
Similar Expressions: Take a huge risk / Tempt fate
30. Stir the pot
Definition: This means to cause trouble or arguments on purpose.
Used in a Sentence: She loves to stir the pot by spreading rumors at school. / Stop trying to stir the pot between your friends.
Similar Expressions: Cause drama / Rock the boat
31. Rock the boat
Definition: This means to disturb a peaceful situation and risk causing conflict.
Used in a Sentence: Everything was fine until he decided to rock the boat. / It is better not to rock the boat right before the test.
Similar Expressions: Cause trouble / Disturb the peace
32. Open a can of worms
Definition: This means to create a complicated and troublesome situation that invites payback.
Used in a Sentence: Asking about the missing money opened a huge can of worms. / Investigating the rumor will only open a can of worms.
Similar Expressions: Spark trouble / Trigger chaos
33. Pull the rug out
Definition: This means to suddenly take away support, leaving someone angry and vulnerable.
Used in a Sentence: Canceling the trip at the last minute pulled the rug out from under us. / She felt betrayed when her partner pulled the rug out.
Similar Expressions: Undermine someone / Leave stranded
34. Catch someone red-handed
Definition: This means to find someone in the act of doing something wrong.
Used in a Sentence: The teacher caught the student red-handed cheating on the quiz. / Police caught the thief red-handed with the stolen bicycle.
Similar Expressions: Caught in the act / Dead to rights
35. Take the law into your own hands
Definition: This means to punish someone yourself instead of letting authorities handle it.
Used in a Sentence: Vigilantes take the law into their own hands in comic books. / You should never take the law into your own hands.
Similar Expressions: Vigilante justice / Self-help punishment
36. Settle the hash
Definition: This means to deal with someone or put them in their place.
Used in a Sentence: The older brother promised to settle the hash of the bully. / It is time to settle the hash and finish this argument.
Similar Expressions: Put an end to it / Deal with it
37. Give someone what for
Definition: This means to scold or punish someone angrily.
Used in a Sentence: Mother gave him what for when she saw his messy room. / He was ready to give the thief what for.
Similar Expressions: Lecture severely / Scold harshly
38. Pay the piper
Definition: This means to face the unpleasant consequences of your actions.
Used in a Sentence: If you break the rules, you will eventually have to pay the piper. / He avoided trouble for a while, but now he must pay the piper.
Similar Expressions: Face the music / Bear the cost
39. Face the music
Definition: This means to accept the unpleasant results of your actions or mistakes.
Used in a Sentence: It is time to face the music and admit you broke the vase. / He tried to run away, but he had to face the music.
Similar Expressions: Accept responsibility / Take your medicine
40. Wash your dirty linen in public
Definition: This means to discuss private quarrels or revenges where everyone can see.
Used in a Sentence: They started arguing in the cafeteria, washing their dirty linen in public. / It is better to keep family disagreements private instead of washing dirty linen in public.
Similar Expressions: Air private grievances / Expose personal disputes
41. Cross the line
Definition: This means to go past an acceptable limit into bad behavior.
Used in a Sentence: Teasing is fun, but insulting someone crosses the line. / When he broke her phone, he crossed the line.
Similar Expressions: Go too far / Step over boundaries
42. Go too far
Definition: This means to behave in a way that is extreme or unacceptable.
Used in a Sentence: Pranking your friends is fine until you go too far. / She knew she went too far when she made him cry.
Similar Expressions: Cross the line / Overstep the mark
43. Bite the hand that feeds you
Definition: This means to harm someone who helps or supports you.
Used in a Sentence: Stealing from your boss is biting the hand that feeds you. / Never bite the hand that feeds you when you need a job.
Similar Expressions: Be ungrateful / Betray a benefactor
44. Add fuel to the fire
Definition: This means to make an argument or angry situation worse.
Used in a Sentence: Yelling back at him only added fuel to the fire. / Spreading rumors will add fuel to the fire.
Similar Expressions: Fan the flames / Worsen the conflict
45. Fan the flames
Definition: This means to make a bad or angry situation grow larger.
Used in a Sentence: Bringing up past mistakes will only fan the flames of anger. / The online comments fanned the flames of the dispute.
Similar Expressions: Add fuel to the fire / Exacerbate tension
46. Let sleeping dogs lie
Definition: This means to leave a situation alone to avoid starting trouble or revenge.
Used in a Sentence: We decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not bring up the old argument. / It is wiser to let sleeping dogs lie than to start a fight.
Similar expressions: Leave well enough alone / Avoid trouble
47. Bury the hatchet
Definition: This means to stop fighting and make peace with someone.
Used in a Sentence: After years of rivalry, the two cousins decided to bury the hatchet. / It is time to bury the hatchet and be friends again.
Similar Expressions: Make peace / End the feud
48. Smoke out
Definition: This means to force someone out of hiding so you can confront them.
Used in a Sentence: The detective tried to smoke out the hidden suspect. / They used clues to smoke out the prankster.
Similar Expressions: Flush out / Uncover someone
49. Turn the other cheek
Definition: This means to not retaliate when someone hurts or insults you.
Used in a Sentence: Instead of fighting back, she chose to turn the other cheek. / Turning the other cheek shows true emotional strength.
Similar Expressions: Forgive and forget / Refuse to retaliate
50. Let bygones be bygones
Definition: This means to forgive past wrongs and forget about old arguments.
Used in a Sentence: They shook hands and agreed to let bygones be bygones. / Let bygones be bygones and start fresh tomorrow.
Similar Expressions: Move on / Wipe the slate clean
Exercise to Practice
- An eye for an eye means helping someone who is in trouble with their homework.
- Getting even means taking revenge on someone who did you wrong.
- Rubbing salt in the wound means making a delicious meal for your family.
- Turning the tables means reversing a situation so you are winning against someone who hurt you.
- Bury the hatchet means hiding a gardening tool in the backyard dirt.
- A taste of your own medicine means treating someone the same bad way they treated you.
- Playing with fire means cooking dinner safely on a hot stove.
- Biting the hand that feeds you means harming someone who helps or supports you.
- Nursing a grudge means taking care of a sick puppy in the park.
- Facing the music means listening to your favorite song on the radio.
- Crossing the line means going past an acceptable limit into bad behavior.
- Cooking someone’s goose means preparing a holiday dinner for guests.
- Catching someone red-handed means finding someone in the act of doing something wrong.
- Letting sleeping dogs lie means waking up pets to play fetch.
- Fanning the flames means making a bad or angry situation grow larger.
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you understand stories, books, and everyday conversations much better. Knowing how people talk about conflict can also help you recognize emotions and express your own feelings clearly.
Try using one or two of these expressions when writing a story or chatting with your friends this week. Practicing them in real life is the best way to remember what they mean forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for revenge?
Common idioms include an eye for an eye, getting even, and giving someone a taste of their own medicine. These phrases help describe the feeling of wanting payback.
Why do we use idioms in English?
Idioms make our language more colorful, creative, and interesting than using plain literal words. They help people express complex feelings quickly.
Is it always good to take revenge?
Most idioms and moral lessons suggest that revenge often leads to more trouble or unhappiness. Forgiveness and letting go are usually encouraged instead.
How can I learn and remember these idioms easily?
You can practice by using them in fun sentences, writing stories, or matching them with their definitions. Using flashcards is also a great study method.
Do all languages have idioms about revenge?
Yes, most cultures have unique expressions and sayings about fairness, payback, and resolving conflicts.
