# an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/an-eye-for-an-eye-a-tooth-for-a-tooth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.

## Examples

- He believes in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
- She wants an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth after the argument.
- Is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth always the best way?
- The rival gangs operate on the principle of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, leading to endless conflict.
- If you break my phone on purpose, I will break yours because I believe in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
- The neighbors keep damaging each other's fences in a cycle of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
- The politician argued that strict prison sentences are not about rehabilitation, but rather a simple case of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
- The ancient legal code demanded an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, ensuring that the punishment always mirrored the original crime.

## Origin

Reference to Exodus 21:23-25: "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe". (King James Version)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.