Synonyms

get back at

Idioms

Take revenge on, as in Watch out for Peter; he's sure to get back at you. Similarly, get one's own back means simply “get revenge,” as in She finally saw a chance to get her own back. The first expression dates from the late 1800s, the second from the early 1900s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That made the scientists wonder if Anchali was trying to get back at Mary by ruining her shower.

From NewsForKids.net • Nov. 21, 2024

County Labor Federation head Ron Herrera to get back at their adversaries.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2024

His wife did it to get back at one of their neighbors, he says.

From Slate • May 17, 2024

Toti does ever so well to get back at him.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2024

Fern couldn’t get back at the Mouseketeers who had stuck their tongues out at her, but only one person separated her from Vonetta.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023