get back at — to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something unpleasant to you; to take revenge on someone
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something unpleasant to you; to take revenge on someone
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɡet bæk æt/
Example Sentences
- 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!
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
He pranked his brother to get back at him for the flour bomb.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳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
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“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!”
“The cat got back at the dog by knocking over his food bowl every morning.”
📚Related Words
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