settling scores
Paying someone back
Settling scores is taking revenge or getting even for past wrongs.
The phrase treats grievances as debts that must be balanced: He had old scores to settle with his former partners.
Often implies delayed retaliation—waiting for the right moment to repay a slight or injury.
Can describe personal vendettas or broader conflicts where parties seek payback.
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- getting evenReciprocating a wrong
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- pay backReturn money owed
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
eye for an eye · grudge · retaliation · retribution · vendetta · blood feud · feud · bad blood · bitter · debt · reckoning · even · spite · long memory · nemesis · avenge · reprisal · justice
- vengeancerevenge, vengeance, vendetta, retribution, retaliation
- vigilantismvigilante, vigilantism, lynch mob, lynching, mob justice
settling scoresforgiving
Inclined to pardon offenses
forgiveness · letting bygones be bygones · letting go · pardoning · burying the hatchet
settling scoresmaking peace
Ending hostilities between parties
reconciliation · peacemaking · mending fences · reconciling · making amends
settle, settling, settled, settles, settler, settlers, settlement, settlements, score