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3. get back at

get back at

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get back at somebody

also get even (with somebody)

to punish someone who did something to you I think he's trying to get back at her for what she said in the meeting.

Related vocabulary: stick it to somebody

See also: back, get

get back at

Take revenge on, as in Watch out for Peter; he's sure to get back at you. Similarly, get one's own back means simply "get revenge," as in She finally saw a chance to get her own back. The first expression dates from the late 1800s, the second from the early 1900s.

See also: back, get