even (redirected from Even Now)

break even

if a person or a business breaks even, they do not make or lose any money from their business. After a bad year in 1995, the company just about broke even in 1996.

See also: break

Don't get mad, get even.

something that you say in order to tell someone not to be angry when someone has upset them, but to do something that will upset them as much. This is my advice to wives whose husbands have left them for a younger woman - don't get mad, get even!

See also: don't

even stevens (British, informal, American & Australian, informal)

if two or more people are even stevens, they have the same amount of something or are at the same level. Give me £20 and we're even stevens - I'm not worried about a few pence.

get an even break (American & Australian)

if someone gets an even break, they get the same opportunity to improve their situation as other people. This guy has the talent. He just needs to get an even break and he could be up there with the best of them.

See also: break

get even (informal)

if you get even with someone who has done something bad to you, you do something bad to them. Vinnie's a spiteful kind of guy. Who knows what he might think up to get even. He swore he'd get even with Lee for humiliating him. (often + with)

give someone an even break (American & Australian)

get an even break - if someone gets an even break, they get the same opportunity to improve their situation as other people. Until now no one had given her an even break to prove what she could do.

See also: break, give

on an even keel

calm and not likely to change suddenly. My main priority is to keep my life on an even keel for the sake of my two boys.

See also: keel

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break even

to earn as much money as you spent. Some of the books we publish do not sell enough copies to break even.

See also: break

even better

more satisfactorily. Put a goal in front of me — or even better, tell me I can't get something done — and I'll work twice as hard to do it. If you can't get rid of the spots, try using a razor blade or better still a liquid that dissolves gum and paint.

See also: better

even if only

just. I still like to keep in touch with friends, even if only occasionally. If you are angry and disappointed, you might as well admit it, even if only to yourself.

See also: only

even so

despite everything. This place fills up with tourists in the summer, but even so, there are plenty of places for them to stay.

be that as it may

get even (with someone)

to punish someone who did something to you. She wants to get even with the guy who hit her with the ball.

settle a score

stick it to someone