IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishan eye for an eye
Meaning: Punishment should match the injury; revenge in kind.
Example: “The feud went on for years, an eye for an eye.”
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 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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