vengeance
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flame with (an emotion)
Of the eyes, to seem to convey a particular feeling or emotion with intensity. Callie's eyes flamed with anger when I accused her of cheating on the test. Of course John's interested in you—his eyes are practically flaming with desire every time he looks at you.
See also: flame
revenge is sweet
Revenge is a potent source of satisfaction and pleasure. John had been bullying and humiliating us for the entire year, so a group of about 20 or so kids got together to peg him with dozens of rotten eggs at the senior prom. Revenge is sweet. Revenge was sweet for the team on Saturday, as they defeated their cross-town rivals for the first time in 10 years. He tormented me for being such a bookworm throughout high school. Now, I run a multi-billion-dollar company while he flips burgers at a fast food restaurant. Revenge is sweet, sometimes.
with a vengeance
Determinedly or passionately, perhaps fueled by anger. After my girlfriend dumped me, I started working out with a vengeance. We're going to have to clean with a vengeance to get the house ready in time.
See also: vengeance
wreak vengeance on (someone or something)
To get revenge on someone or some group in a particularly harmful, violent, or malicious manner. The king began amassing an army in order to wreak vengeance on the nation that had attacked the kingdom. She swore he would wreak vengeance on the man who double-crossed her.
wreak vengeance upon (someone or something)
To get revenge on someone or some group in a particularly harmful, violent, or malicious manner. The king began amassing an army in order to wreak vengeance upon the nation that had attacked the kingdom. She swore she would wreak vengeance upon the man who double-crossed her.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
do something with a vengeance
Fig. to do something with vigor; to do something energetically as if one were angry. Bob is building that fence with a vengeance. Mary is really weeding her garden with a vengeance.
See also: vengeance
flame with anger
and flame with resentment; flame with lust; flame with vengeanceFig. [for someone's eyes] to "blaze" or seem to communicate a particular quality or excitement, usually a negative feeling. His eyes flamed with resentment when he heard Sally's good news. Her eyes flamed with hatred.
Revenge is sweet.
Prov. It is very pleasurable to revenge yourself on someone. Jill: Remember when Tom left me for another woman? Well, she just left him, and he asked me out on a date. I told him I had better things to do. Jane: Revenge is sweet, huh?
with a vengeance
Cliché with determination and eagerness. The angry soldier attacked the enemy with a vengeance. Bill ate all his dinner and gobbled up his dessert with a vengeance.
See also: vengeance
wreak vengeance (up)on someone or something
Cliché to seek and get revenge on someone by harming someone or something. The gangster wreaked his vengeance by destroying his rival's house. The general wanted to wreak vengeance on the opposing army for their recent successful attack.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
with a vengeance
With great violence or energy; also, to an extreme degree. For example, The cottage was filthy and Ruth began cleaning with a vengeance, or December has turned cold with a vengeance. This expression was first recorded in 1533. Also see with a will.
See also: vengeance
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.
with a vengeance
in a higher degree than was expected or desired; in the fullest sense.See also: vengeance
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
do something with a ˈvengeance
(informal) do something with great energy or force: After the holidays I need to start working with a vengeance. ♢ The rain came down with a vengeance.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
with a vengeance
1. With great violence or force.
2. To an extreme degree: December has turned cold with a vengeance.
See also: vengeance
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
revenge is sweet
Retaliation is wonderfully satisfying. Occasionally put as vengeance is sweet, this observation was made by the ancients, from Homer in the Iliad to Juvenal in his Satires. In English it was voiced by Ben Jonson, Shakespeare, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and countless others. Here is a misogynist version by Byron (Don Juan, 1819–24): “Sweet is revenge—especially to women.”
with a vengeance
Forcefully, extremely hard. Vengeance in this old expression is not the same as “revenge” (see also revenge is sweet). It was already in print in 1533, in the same meaning it has today. “Be gone quickly, or my pikestaff and I will set thee away with a vengeance,” wrote George Peele (King Edward I, 1593).
See also: vengeance
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer