pay someone back
Meaning: To respond to somebody's behavior with similar behavior.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The expression is often, but not always, used in reference to negative situations.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- pay through the nose — To pay a great amount; to pay too much.
- pick someone's brain — To get information from someone, usually by questioning the person carefully and in great…
- play it by ear — To go along with a situation as it develops before deciding what to do; to do something w…
- poker face — An expressionless face; a face that reveals nothing of one's feelings or thoughts.
- put one's best foot forward — To try to make the best possible impression.
- put one's finger on it — To identify or understand something properly.
More English idioms
- put one's foot down — To be firm and unyielding about something.
- put one's money where one's mouth is — To support what one is saying by risking or spending money (sentences 1 and 2); to demons…
- rack one's brain — To search through one's mind intensively; to try very hard to think of something.
- rule of thumb — A rough guide; an unwritten or customary rule based on experience or practice.
- save face — To maintain/not maintain a degree of pride in a shameful situation.
- see eye to eye — To agree.
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