an eye for an eye
Meaning: Punishment should match the injury; revenge in kind.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The feud went on for years, an eye for an eye.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: From the law of retaliation in the Hebrew Bible (Exodus 21:24), which echoes the older Code of Hammurabi. In the Gospels Jesus quotes it in order to reject revenge.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Œil pour œil, dent pour dent — literally: Eye for eye, tooth for tooth
More idioms — Body & Senses
- grease someone's palm — To bribe someone.
- go by shanks' mare — To walk; to travel on foot.
- have a foot in both camps — To be involved with two opposing sides at once.
- deaf as a post — Completely deaf.
- soaked to the skin — Completely wet.
- have one foot in the grave — To be close to death.
More English idioms
- scream blue murder — To protest very loudly.
- send someone packing — To dismiss someone abruptly.
- money burns a hole in someone's pocket — Someone cannot keep money without spending it.
- jump through hoops — To go through many difficult or pointless steps to get something.
- a parting shot — A final sharp remark made while leaving.
- set the record straight — To correct a mistaken account or misunderstanding.
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