get even

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)

See also: even

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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

See also: even