taste

*a taste of one's own medicine and *a dose of one's own medicine

Fig. a sample of the unpleasantness that one has been giving other people. (Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Now you see how it feels to have someone call you names! You are getting a taste of your own medicine! John, who is often rude and abrupt with people, was devastated when the teacher treated him rudely. He doesn't like having a dose of his own medicine.

See also: medicine

*so bad one can taste it

Fig. very much, indeed. (*Typically: need ~; want ~; have to do something ~.) I want that car so bad I can taste it. He had to get to Philadelphia so bad he could taste it.

See also: bad, can, one

*taste for something

a desire for a particular food, drink, or experience. (Typically: get ~; have ~; give some-one ~; acquire ~.) The Smiths have a taste for adventure and take exotic vacations. When she was pregnant, Mary often had a taste for pickles.

Every man to his taste.

Prov. Everyone likes something different, and you should not condemn people because of what they like. (Can be used to remark that someone's tastes are different from yours, as in the first example.) Jill: Why don't you get some decent neckties, Fred? Fred: What do you mean, decent? My ties are perfectly fine! Jill: Oh, well. Every man to his taste. Ellen: People who like cats are much more discerning than people who like dogs, don't you think? Jane: Not necessarily. Everyone to his taste.

See also: every, his, man

in bad taste and in poor taste

rude; vulgar; obscene. Mrs. Franklin felt that your joke was in bad taste. We found the play to be in poor taste, so we walked out in the middle of the second act.

See also: bad

leave a bad taste in someone's mouth

[for something] to leave a bad feeling or memory with someone. The whole business about the missing money left a bad taste in his mouth. It was a very nice hotel, but something about it left a bad taste in my mouth.

See also: bad, leave, mouth

smell blood

Fig. to be ready for a fight; to be ready to attack; to be ready to act. (Like sharks, which are sent into a frenzy by the smell of blood.) Lefty was surrounded, and you could tell that the guys from the other gang smelled blood. The lawyer heard the crash and came running—smelling blood and bucks.

See also: blood, smell

taste blood

Fig. to experience something exciting, and perhaps dangerous, for the first time. She had tasted blood once, and she knew that the life of a race-car driver was for her. Once you taste blood, you're hooked.

See also: blood

taste like something

to have the same taste as something. This stuff tastes like watermelon. What do you think this tastes like?

See also: like

taste like more

to taste very good; to taste so good as to make one want to eat more. This pie is great. It tastes like more. Mom's cooking always tastes like more.

See also: like, more

taste of something 

1. to have a taste similar to something; to have the hint of a certain flavor. This ice cream tastes of apricots. Why does this wine taste of vinegar?

2. to take a taste of something. (Typically southern.) Here, taste of this pie. Can I taste of your apple?

taste of something

an experience; an example. Bill gave Sue a taste of her own rudeness. My friend used a parachute and got a taste of what it's like to be a bird.

Tastes differ.

Prov. Different people like different things. Fred: Bill always goes out with such stupid girls. I can't understand why. Alan: Tastes differ.

See also: differ

There is no accounting for taste(s).

Prov. You cannot blame different people because they like different things, even if you do not understand why they like what they like. Jill: I can't believe so many people are going to see that idiotic movie. Jane: There's no accounting for tastes.

See also: accounting

There's no accounting for taste.

Prov. Cliché There is no explanation for people's preferences. Look at that purple and orange car! There's no accounting for taste. Some people seemed to like the music, although I thought it was worse than noise. There's no accounting for taste.

See also: accounting

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give somebody a dose/taste of their own medicine

to do the same bad thing to someone that they have often done to you, in order to show them how unpleasant it is She's always turning up late for me so I thought I'd give her a taste of her own medicine and see how she likes it.

See also: dose, give, medicine

leave a bad taste in your mouth

if an experience leaves a bad taste in your mouth, you have an unpleasant memory of it I think we all felt that he'd been treated unfairly and it left a bad taste in people's mouths.

See also: bad, leave, mouth

smell/taste blood

to recognise an opportunity to be more successful, especially by taking advantage or someone who is in a difficult situation Environmental groups smell blood, and are increasing their campaign against the airport.

See be baying for blood, draw blood, scent blood, spit blood, sweat blood

See also: blood, smell

There's no accounting for taste!

something that you say when you cannot understand why someone likes something or someone 'I love having a cold shower before breakfast.' 'Well, there's no accounting for taste!'

See also: accounting

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leave a bad taste in your mouth

to cause an unpleasant memory Violent movies always leave a bad taste in my mouth.

See also: bad, leave, mouth

taste blood

to achieve a small victory, which makes you want or expect an even greater one I could taste blood after the first day of the trial and I knew we would win in the end.

See also: blood