an object lesson

An actual, concrete example of something. Your overreaction was an object lesson in how to ensure that your kids don't tell you the truth. OK, that was an object lesson in what not to do. You have a terrible poker face—with one look at you, I knew you had a bad hand! Their successful petition is an object lesson in how to get things done at a grassroots level.

learn (one's) lesson

To learn through painful experience not to do something, often something one had been warned about or knew might be risky. I told you that you'd feel awful if you drank that much wine. I hope you've learned your lesson. I certainly learned my lesson about buying something from a stranger online.

life lesson

1. A situation, experience, activity, etc., from which profoundly useful knowledge, insight, or principles can be gleaned. It was an excruciating ordeal at the time, but the failure of my company actually proved to be a valuable life lesson in the importance of resilience and adaptability. 0

2. A principle, axiom, or piece of insight that is or could become of fundamental importance in or throughout one's life. The most important life lesson I ever learned was that a person's health is their most valuable asset. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." This life lesson has been at the core of my mindset ever since I was a teenager, and it has helped me have a very successful career.

need to be taught a lesson

To deserve some sort of punishment or harm as a means of learning to avoid some unwanted behavior in the future. Anyone who embezzles $150 million needs be taught a lesson, so I hope the court punishes him to the fullest extent of the law. A: "The cat scratched Bobby when he pulled its tail again." B: "I guess Bobby needed to be taught a lesson." "Anyone who messes with my little brother needs to be taught a lesson," Jason said, cracking his knuckles.

read (one) a lesson

To scold, reprimand, or reprove someone severely for an error or mistake. I was read a lesson by my boss last week for messing up the accounting software. I know Mary messed up, but there was no need to read her a lesson for it.

teach (one) a lesson

To convince one to avoid some unwanted behavior in the future through the inflicting of some form of punishment or harm. Can be said of the harm or punishment itself, or the agent inflicting the harm or punishment. After the CEO was found guilty, he was forced to repay $150 million in damages and will spend the next 10 years in jail. If that doesn't teach him a lesson, I don't know what will. A: "The cat scratched Bobby this time when he pulled its tail again." B: "Well, that ought to teach him a lesson." Are you going to mess with my little brother again, or am I going to have to teach you a lesson?

teach someone a lesson

to get even with someone for bad behavior. John tripped me, so I punched him. That ought to teach him a lesson. That taught me a lesson. I won't do it again.

learn one's lesson

Profit from experience, especially an unhappy one. For example, From now on she'd read the instructions first; she'd learned her lesson. Also see hard way.

read a lecture

Also, read a lesson. Issue a reprimand, as in Dad read us a lecture after the teacher phoned and complained. The first term dates from the late 1500s, the variant from the early 1600s. Also see read the riot act; teach a lesson.

teach a lesson

Punish in order to prevent a recurrence of bad behavior. For example, Timmy set the wastebasket on fire; that should teach him a lesson about playing with matches . This term uses lesson in the sense of "a punishment or rebuke," a usage dating from the late 1500s. Also see learn one's lesson.

learn your ˈlesson

learn what to do or what not to do in the future because you have had a bad experience in the past: I used to carry a lot of money on me, until one day my bag was stolen. Since then, I’ve learned my lesson.

an ˈobject lesson

a practical example of what you should or should not do in a particular situation: It was an object lesson in how not to make a speech. He did absolutely everything wrong.An object lesson was a school lesson that used real objects as a way of teaching in a very direct and practical way.

teach somebody a ˈlesson

(also ˈteach somebody (to do something)) learn from a punishment or because of an unpleasant experience, that you have done something wrong or made a mistake: He needs to be taught a lesson (= he should be punished). ♢ Losing all his money in a card game has taught him a lesson he’ll never forget. ♢ That’ll teach you! Perhaps you’ll be more careful in future!