getting even
1
7.4
- idiom
- Informal
- After the betrayal, his actions were all about getting even with those who had wronged him.
- way of getting even
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Watch on YouTubeThe problem with getting people to be accountable generally is that the the motivation behind that is revenge rather than justice and getting even.
- The problem with getting people to be accountable generally is that the the motivation behind that is revenge rather than justice and getting even.
Examples
-
Getting my money back or getting even.
-
That's just my way of getting even with Jane Frances for that birthday party.
Fiction book (1990) -
So all this is about getting even.
-
Oh, so it was getting even?
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So you believe in getting even?
-
Now and then you think about getting even.
Fiction book (1994) -
All he talks about is getting even.
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I'd hate to think that I was doing this just to get even.
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You're getting even with me for something.
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I'm just getting even.
Synonyms
345
1.9
An action given in exchange or as a reply
164
6.8
Punishing someone in return for a wrong done to you
112
5.2
Harming someone because they hurt you
91
5.5
Harming someone to punish them for something they did
34
8.3
An action that hurts someone in return for an attack
18
5.8
An action done to hurt someone because they hurt you
1
9.5
Giving back a favor or returning harm in the same way
An action taken to hurt or punish someone after an unfriendly act
Antonyms
How Vengeful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is partially derivable: 'getting' (obtaining) + 'even' (making equal) yields the idea of ‘making things equal’ or restoring balance, which points toward reciprocation. However, the specific pragmatic sense of taking revenge is a metaphorical/idiomatic extension and not fully predictable from the parts without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Getting even comes from the simple image of making things even or equal again, like balancing a score or an account after someone has been wronged. That's why it means 'taking revenge' or doing something to make things fair again.