Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

teach a lesson

Idioms  

  1. 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.

Noticing Lisa is depressed, Gaga takes her under her wing to teach a lesson in confidence.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2024

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

Although his formal investigation largely has to do with tracing ballistics, Virgil makes time to take in the sights, teach a lesson to a vicious bully and sample the terrible cooking at Mom’s Café.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2018

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.