teach someone a lesson
Make them regret
To teach someone a lesson is to punish or retaliate against them in a way meant to change their future behavior: After he cheated me, I reported him to teach him a lesson.
The phrase implies the target deserves correction and will remember the consequences.
It can describe deliberate punishment or events that humble someone naturally: That loss taught them a lesson about overconfidence.
- comeuppanceDeserved punishment or rebuke
- just desertsMerited reward or punishment
- correctiveDesigned to remedy flaws
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- consequenceResult of an action
taste of their own medicine · admonish · reprimand · deterrence · retribution · hands-on learning · accountability · restitution · justice · coach · payback · pedagogy · chastisement · scolding · humility · eat humble pie · bitter pill · harsh truth
teach someone a lessonforgive
Cease to blame
let off the hook · pardon · show mercy · turn the other cheek · excuse
teach someone a lessonreward
Payment for service
encourage · praise · commend · incentivize · reinforce
teach someone a lessonlook the other way
Willfully ignore misconduct
turn a blind eye · enable · ignore · condone · let it go
teach, teacher, teachers, teaching, teachings, teachable, unteachable, someone, lesson