# fix someone's wagon

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fix-someones-wagon
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To cause injury, distress, or inconvenience to someone, especially as punishment or as a comeuppance.

## Examples

- If he keeps lying to me, I will fix his wagon.
- I will fix your wagon if you steal my lunch again.
- The manager decided to fix the dishonest employee's wagon by reporting his actions to the board.
- When the neighbor kept parking in her driveway, she finally fixed his wagon by having the car towed away at his expense.
- The store owner fixed the shoplifter's wagon by handing the security footage directly to the local police officers.
- After discovering the betrayal, she plotted a clever scheme to fix his wagon and ensure he faced the full consequences of his deceit.

## Origin

The idiom derives from an archaic sense of the word fix, which meant to fix an object in place or render it unable to move. This sense of the term survives in the modern word affix. The expression is rooted in the literal immobilisation of a wagon, the functional result being that the owner is unable to proceed with their intended journey.

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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.