pay back
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To take revenge on someone or get even with them: To inflict harm or unpleasant consequences on someone in return for harm they caused.
- To return money that was borrowed: To repay a debt or loan.
Verb (intransitive):
- To act as a form of recompense or reward: To serve as a fitting return for someone's actions, often positive.
Usage and Examples
Verb (Transitive - Revenge):
- He vowed to pay back his enemies for their betrayal.
- She found a way to pay him back for the embarrassing prank.
Verb (Transitive - Repayment):
- I need to pay back the loan by the end of the month.
- He promised to pay back every cent he borrowed.
Verb (Intransitive - Recompense):
- Her kindness paid back when she needed help the most.
- His loyalty paid back in the form of a promotion.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- The phrase often implies a sense of settling a score, whether financial or moral. The context (positive or negative) is crucial for interpretation.
- When used in the sense of revenge, it can have a slightly informal or intense connotation.
Variants and Related Words
- Repay (verb): A more formal synonym, primarily for returning money but can also mean to reciprocate a favor or wrong.
- Retaliate (verb): Specifically means to make an attack or assault in return for a similar attack. More focused on revenge than "pay back."
- Reimburse (verb): To pay back money spent, typically for expenses.
- Settle a debt (phrase): To pay back money owed.
Synonyms
- Get even with: (Informal) To take revenge.
- Return: To give back (often used for money or items).
- Reciprocate: To respond to an action by making a corresponding one.
- Requite: (Formal/Literary) To make appropriate return for (a favor, injury, etc.).
Phrasal Verbs and Constructions
- Pay someone back for something: This is the standard construction.
- I will pay you back for the money on Friday. (Financial)
- I'll pay you back for this insult! (Revenge)
Related Idioms
- Pay back in kind: To respond to an action with a similar action.
- If they attack us, we will pay them back in kind.
- Pay back with interest: To return more than was given, literally (more money) or figuratively (stronger revenge).
- He not only repaid the loan but paid it back with interest.
- Her betrayal was paid back with interest when he exposed her secrets.
Verb
- take vengeance on or get even
- We'll get them!
- That'll fix him good!
- This time I got him
- act or give recompense in recognition of someone's behavior or actions