a dose of (one's) own medicine
(redirected from a dose of its own medicine)a dose of (one's) own medicine
An experience of the same harmful or unpleasant thing that one has inflicted on others or an attack in the same manner in which one attacks others. John has gossiped about everyone in our group, so we gave him a dose of his own medicine by spreading rumors about him. The coup gave the dictatorship a dose of its own medicine, subjecting the dictator and his entourage to torture and confinement in deplorable conditions.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
dose of one's own medicine
Also, taste of one's own medicine. Repayment or retaliation, as in It's time we gave them a dose of their own medicine and simply forget to call them back , or Joe was upset at being left out, but they were just giving him a taste of his own medicine . [Late 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
a dose (or taste) of your own medicine
the same bad treatment that you have given to others.The idea of taking or receiving your own medicine has been in metaphorical use since the mid 19th century.
1994 Eoin McNamee Resurrection Man Every time you turn on the telly there's some politician talking the mouth off himself, dose of their own medicine's what they want.
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