teach (someone) a lesson
idiom
: to make it less likely that a person will repeat doing something bad
I'm glad they got caught. That will teach them a lesson!
Examples of teach (someone) a lesson in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Noticing Lisa is depressed, Gaga takes her under her wing to teach a lesson in confidence.
—
Kimberly Aguirre, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2024
Mundane forms of retaliation can teach a lesson more clearly than ignoring the transgressor’s wrongdoing, says Susan Boon, a psychology professor at the University of Calgary.
—Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 June 2024
What is a candy bar worth when a child’s suffering not only doesn’t teach a lesson, but can actually cause further harm — like more jail time in the future?
—Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Taking part in a class-action lawsuit can teach a lesson, too.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 24 Sep. 2022
Advertisement Rabbi Kushner rejected traditional explanations for tragedy — the notion, for example, that God employs suffering to teach a lesson, or that God has a plan unknowable to mortals.
—Emily Langer, Washington Post, 5 May 2023
Dear Solution: What a clever way to teach a lesson while making others in need feel good.
—Annie Lane, oregonlive, 15 Feb. 2022
My intent with the calisthenics was to teach a lesson about the importance of practice and discipline.
—Stephen Borelli, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
Politis is one of several parents upset that a preschool teacher at Studio Kids’ Little River location used blackface to teach a lesson about Black History Month.
—Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2023
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Kimberly Aguirre, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2024
Mundane forms of retaliation can teach a lesson more clearly than ignoring the transgressor’s wrongdoing, says Susan Boon, a psychology professor at the University of Calgary.
—Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 June 2024
What is a candy bar worth when a child’s suffering not only doesn’t teach a lesson, but can actually cause further harm — like more jail time in the future?
—Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Taking part in a class-action lawsuit can teach a lesson, too.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 24 Sep. 2022
Advertisement Rabbi Kushner rejected traditional explanations for tragedy — the notion, for example, that God employs suffering to teach a lesson, or that God has a plan unknowable to mortals.
—Emily Langer, Washington Post, 5 May 2023
Dear Solution: What a clever way to teach a lesson while making others in need feel good.
—Annie Lane, oregonlive, 15 Feb. 2022
My intent with the calisthenics was to teach a lesson about the importance of practice and discipline.
—Stephen Borelli, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
Politis is one of several parents upset that a preschool teacher at Studio Kids’ Little River location used blackface to teach a lesson about Black History Month.
—Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near teach (someone) a lesson
Cite this Entry
“Teach (someone) a lesson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teach%20%28someone%29%20a%20lesson. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
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