get back at

VERB

[/ɡet bæk æt/]

to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something unpleasant to you; to take revenge on someone

💡 Concept

He pranked his brother to get back at him for the flour bomb.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɡet bæk æt/

🇬🇧 UK/ɡet bæk æt/

🌳Etymology

Origin

This phrasal verb developed from the combination of 'get back' (to return) and the preposition 'at', originally meaning 'to return something to someone'. Over time, it evolved in modern English to denote revenge or retaliation, shifting from a literal sense of reciprocal action to a figurative sense of getting even.

Breakdown

get (to obtain or return) + back (backward, in return) + at (toward a target) = to retaliate against someone. The preposition 'at' functions as a marker indicating the target of the retaliatory action.

🎵Rhyme

cathatbatfat

cat

hat

bat

fat

🔗Collocations

get back at someone for something

try to get back at

get back at your enemies

successfully get back at

plan to get back at

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“After my roommate ate my leftover pizza, I got back at him by hiding all his socks.”

“She's planning to get back at her ex-boyfriend by becoming incredibly successful.”

“Don't try to get back at me for winning the game - it's just bad sportsmanship!”

😄 Fun example

“The cat got back at the dog by knocking over his food bowl every morning.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

take revengeretaliatepay backsettle the scoreget even

Antonyms

forgivepardonlet go

revengeretaliationpaybackvendettagrudge

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get back at — to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something unpleasant to you; to take revenge on someone

Example Sentences