vengeance

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(do something) with a vengeance

To do something 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.

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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.

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flame with anger

and flame with resentment; flame with lust; flame with vengeance

Fig. [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.

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.

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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.

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.

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with a vengeance

in a higher degree than was expected or desired; in the fullest sense.

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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.

with a vengeance

1. With great violence or force.

2. To an extreme degree: December has turned cold with a vengeance.

See also: vengeance

References in classic literature ?

The Defarges, husband and wife, The Vengeance, and Jacques Three, were in the first press, and at no great distance from him in the Hall.

Defarge had but sprung over a railing and a table, and folded the miserable wretch in a deadly embrace--Madame Defarge had but followed and turned her hand in one of the ropes with which he was tied--The Vengeance and Jacques Three were not yet up with them, and the men at the windows had not yet swooped into the Hall, like birds of prey from their high perches--when the cry seemed to go up, all over the city, "Bring him out

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Strong be your swords while your blood is warm, And spare neither for pity nor fear, For vengeance hath but an hour; Strong hate itself shall expire I also must perish

Let each bring his spoil to our chosen place of rendezvous at the Trysting-tree in the Harthill-walk; for there at break of day will we make just partition among our own bands, together with our worthy allies in this great deed of vengeance.

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Revenge yourself, then, Edmond," cried the poor mother; "but let your vengeance fall on the culprits, -- on him, on me, but not on my son

Mercedes opened the door of the study and had disappeared before he had recovered from the painful and profound revery into which his thwarted vengeance had plunged him.

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They locked up their feelings within their bosoms until an opportunity should arrive to gratify them with a bloody act of vengeance.

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Life and vengeance were not to elude him after all.

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How can such as you speak of violence and of vengeance.

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Then comes the murder of Agamemnon by Aegisthus and Clytaemnestra, followed by the vengeance of Orestes and Pylades.

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He desired Mr Blifil to conduct him immediately to the place, which as he approached he breathed forth vengeance mixed with lamentations; nor did he refrain from casting some oblique reflections on Mr Allworthy; insinuating that the wickedness of the country was principally owing to the encouragement he had given to vice, by having exerted such kindness to a bastard, and by having mitigated that just and wholesome rigour of the law which allots a very severe punishment to loose wenches.

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In thy presence they feel themselves small, and their baseness gleameth and gloweth against thee in invisible vengeance.

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And I call on you, spirits of the dead, and on you, wandering ministers of vengeance, to aid and conduct me in my work.

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Other vengeance than mine had followed that fated man from the theatre to his own door--from his own door to his refuge in Paris.

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Private vengeance, sir, or public sentiment, or both combined-- destroy him,' said Mr Tappertit.