Synonyms

teach a lesson

Idioms

Punish in order to prevent a recurrence of bad behavior. For example, Timmy set the wastebasket on fire; that should teach him a lesson about playing with matches. This term uses lesson in the sense of “a punishment or rebuke,” a usage dating from the late 1500s. Also see learn one's lesson.

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.

See Examples For:

teach a lesson

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf responded on X that Iran's armed forces were "ready to respond and to teach a lesson for any aggression".

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

These experiences do not always exist to be traumatizing or even to teach a lesson.

From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2023

You may write to relay an event, to teach a lesson, or to explore an idea.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021

“I didn’t want to sound preachy or like I was trying to teach a lesson in an ‘Afterschool Special.’

From Washington Post ● Oct. 27, 2021

I wished Mr. Mann would actually do his job and teach a lesson, or at least pay attention to the class.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

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

teach a lesson

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words