ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pay off old scores

idiom
Meaning

To settle old grudges by taking revenge.


Examples
SIMPLE

He wants to pay off old scores with his rival.

CONTEXTUAL

After winning the election, the politician used his new power to pay off old scores against his former critics.

COMPLEX

The protagonist returned to his hometown not for reconciliation, but to systematically pay off old scores against those who had betrayed him years ago.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    any old nook or cranny

    Alternative form of any nook or cranny.

  2. 02

    bad old days

    The past, seen as a time when things were worse.

  3. 03

    big old

    Emphatically or impressively big; really big.

  4. 04

    chip off the old block

    Someone who takes after one of their parents; (generally) a person similar to another.

  5. 05

    come the old soldier

    Often followed by with: to deceive, impose upon, or take advantage of someone, as if exploiting one's superior age or experience.

  6. 06

    every old nook and cranny

    Alternative form of every nook and cranny.

  7. 07

    give someone the old heave-ho

    Alternative form of give someone the heave-ho.

  8. 08

    green old age

    A person's elderly years that are active or full of vitality.

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