even the score
To seek or obtain revenge against someone.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He wants to even the score after losing the game.”
“After she was unfairly fired, she looked for a way to even the score with her former boss.”
“The protagonist spent years plotting his return, determined to even the score with those who had betrayed his family.”
The term is formed by analogy to scorekeeping in sports, where the accumulation of points determines the standing of competitors. It entered the lexicon as a metaphorical extension of the practice of recording tallies to ensure a state of numerical parity between opposing sides.
- 01
four score and seven years ago
Used (sometimes sarcastically) to indicate that a past event being mentioned is particularly important: a long time ago; many years ago.
- 02
go off at score
To break suddenly into a gallop.
- 03
know the score
To be aware of a situation, especially of the consequences of misconduct.
- 04
no score
In a sporting event, a score of zero to zero.
- 05
score off
To defeat (especially in an argument), get the better of, achieve a success over, gain an advantage or win points over, make a point to the detriment or at the expense of, make appear foolish. Sometimes with particle on (someone).
- 06
settle a score
To even the score.
- 07
three score and ten
Seventy, being the number of years in a full lifetime of traditionally-expected duration.
Last updated August 10, 2026