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.

get back at

“I feel great and ready to get back at it,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2025

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

From NewsForKids.net ● Nov. 21, 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

But is Natalie really trying to help us—or just trying to get back at her mom?

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

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