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a dose of (one's) own medicine

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a dose of (one's) own medicine

An experience of the same harmful or unpleasant thing that one has inflicted on others; an attack in the same manner in which one attacks others. John has gossiped about everyone in our group, so we gave him a dose of his own medicine by spreading rumors about him. The coup gave the dictatorship a dose of its own medicine, subjecting the dictator and his entourage to torture and confinement in deplorable conditions.

See also: dose, medicine, of, own