even the score

English

Etymology

By analogy to scorekeeping in sports.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

even the score (third-person singular simple present evens the score, present participle evening the score, simple past and past participle evened the score)

1. (idiomatic) To seek or obtain revenge against someone.

   When the student pulled a prank on the principal, the principal evened the score by giving the student a suspension.

Synonyms

• settle the score, settle a score

See also

• pay off old scores