give (one) a taste of (one's) own medicine

give (one) a taste of (one's) own medicine

To do the same harmful or unpleasant thing that one has inflicted on others or to attack in the same manner in which one attacks others. Bill is always excluding me from things, so I'm going to give him a taste of his own medicine and not invite him to my party. This team likes to play tough defense, so let's give them a taste of their own medicine and not give them any space to score.

See also: give, medicine, of, own, taste

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

give someone a taste of their own medicine

or

give someone a dose of their own medicine

If you give someone a taste of their own medicine or a dose of their own medicine, you treat them badly in the same way that they treated you. The famously aggressive interviewer was given a taste of his own medicine today when one caller asked him a series of very direct questions. I haven't called him for over a week. Giving him a dose of his own medicine — see how he likes it.

See also: give, medicine, of, own, someone, taste

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

give somebody a taste/dose of their own ˈmedicine

treat somebody in the same unpleasant, unkind, rude, etc. way that they have treated you: Give her a dose of her own medicine and make her wait for you. Then maybe she won’t be so slow next time.

See also: dose, give, medicine, of, own, somebody, taste

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017