get back at (someone)
idiom
informal
: to do something bad or unpleasant to (someone who has treated one badly or unfairly)
After he lost his job, he vowed that he would find a way to get back at his old boss.
Examples of get back at (someone) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephanie is actually trying to get back at Tad for moving on with her best friend just days after her death.
—
Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 24 Apr. 2025
Tykwer doesn’t bring anything close to the subtlety and shading that Kieslowski would have, in the story of a vigilante teacher (Blanchett) who tries to get back at drug dealers who have infiltrated her school by blowing them up with a bomb, which ends up killing the wrong people.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2025
However, Billy had a chance to get back at Alec once the actor got a little older.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Though the 1980 comedy revolves around three women who get back at their boss for his mistreatment of them and other women in the office, Fonda isn’t quite sure whether a plot like that could happen in 2025.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for get back at (someone)
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 24 Apr. 2025
Tykwer doesn’t bring anything close to the subtlety and shading that Kieslowski would have, in the story of a vigilante teacher (Blanchett) who tries to get back at drug dealers who have infiltrated her school by blowing them up with a bomb, which ends up killing the wrong people.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2025
However, Billy had a chance to get back at Alec once the actor got a little older.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Though the 1980 comedy revolves around three women who get back at their boss for his mistreatment of them and other women in the office, Fonda isn’t quite sure whether a plot like that could happen in 2025.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for get back at (someone)
Cite this Entry
“Get back at (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20back%20at%20%28someone%29. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share