even the score en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
By analogy to scorekeeping in sports.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To seek or obtain revenge against someone.
Near-synonyms: pay off old scores, pay back in someone's own coin
When the student pulled a prank on the principal, the principal evened the score by giving the student a suspension.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| evened the score | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| evened the score | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| evening the score | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| evens the score | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
scoreboard · scorekeeper · keep score · scorekeeping
Synonyms
settle the score · pay back in someone's own coin · pay off old scores · settle a score
Translations (9)
es ajustar cuentas (seek or obtain revenge against someone) · fi tasata tilit (seek or obtain revenge against someone) · sv ge igen för gammal ost (seek or obtain revenge against someone) · de heimzahlen (seek or obtain revenge against someone) · is launa lambið gráa (seek or obtain revenge against someone) · nl een oude rekening vereffenen (seek or obtain revenge against someone) · cmn 報仇雪恨 /报仇雪恨 (seek or obtain revenge against someone) · pl wyrównać rachunki (seek or obtain revenge against someone) · ga an comhar a dhíol le (seek or obtain revenge against someone)