Montezuma's revenge

American  

[mon-tuh-zoo-muhz ri-venj] / ˌmɒn təˈzu məz rɪˈvɛndʒ /

noun

Slang.

1. traveler's diarrhea, especially as experienced by some visitors to Mexico.

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Montezuma's revenge British  

noun

1. informal an acute attack of infectious diarrhoea, esp when experienced in Mexico by tourists

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Etymology

Origin of Montezuma's revenge

1960–65, in allusion to Montezuma II ( def. ), who was killed by invading Europeans

Example Sentences

The social media blowback exploded like a digital Montezuma’s revenge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

And if they don’t invite the Aztecs after all this, well, beware of Montezuma’s revenge.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 28, 2023

South of the border, Montezuma’s revenge is the least of Anna’s problems.

From Washington Post • Jul. 19, 2016

By the time I reached the grubby, romantic surf town of Sayulita, I was beset by Montezuma’s revenge.

From The Guardian • Oct. 23, 2015

Pierce’s brigade was present for the climactic battle of Chapultepec, but Pierce himself was conspicuously absent, suffering terribly from Montezuma’s revenge in the sick ward. 

From Slate • Sep. 14, 2012