VOA词汇掌故2024--An Eye for an Eye

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

Today we talk to you about expressions dealing¹ with payback, getting even, and revenge.

When a person wants to even the score, that person might have the proverb an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth in mind.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary describes it as a "repayment² in kind as revenge for an injustice³."

In kind means "in the same way."

The expression an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is ancient. It appears in The Bible and in The Code of Hammurabi, a set of laws written by the ancient Babylonian king of that name.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth describes a way of thinking. It is the idea that retaliating⁴ in kind is the best way to deal with a crime or some other offense⁵.

It is the idea that a person who causes someone to suffer should suffer in the same amount and in the same way. For example, if someone did something to hurt you, you would want to hurt them equally.

To remind others of the proverb, people often simply say an eye for an eye.

For some people, every second counts when they are looking to settle a score. For others, the revenge method might require patience. Some people wait years or a lifetime to get their revenge.

The way people settle the score can be very different. Some cultures have this expression: Revenge is a dish best served cold. The idea is that settling the score over time without emotion is the best way.

A similar expression is tit for tat.

Tit for tat is often used to describe diplomatic disagreements between nations. It is hundreds of years old. Both "tit" and "tat" mean the same thing: a "strike" or a "blow." Experts say the expression changed from tip for tap to its present form after years of sound changes in the English language.

Tit for tat literally⁶ means blow for blow. Merriam-Webster says it is: "An equal return given for some wrong that's been done."

Now, let's hear two friends use some revenge expressions.

A: Did you hear what happened to Tom? Someone slashed⁸ his tires! It cost him hundreds of dollars to replace the ruined tires.

B: That sounds awful. Does he know who did it?

A: He suspects it was his ex-girlfriend, Diana.

B: Why?

A: Well, he scratched up the paint on her car last week. I'm still friends with Diana and she told me a security camera caught him doing it. It cost her hundreds of dollars to repaint her car.

B: Well, it sounds like they're even now. You know, an eye for an eye and all that...

And that's Words and Their Stories. Until next time ...

Words in This Story

revenge -n. hurting someone because they hurt you first

score -n. an accounting⁹ in numbers or some other measure that shows who is winning and who is losing in a competition

proverb -n. a short saying that expresses what people recognize as a truth or important idea

retaliate¹⁰ -v. to strike back against a wrong or attack

literally -adv. formally defined as

slash⁷ -v. to use a knife or similar instrument to cut into something and severely damage it

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 repayment   

n.偿还，偿还款；报酬

参考例句：

• I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.我有权利索取货物损坏赔偿金。
• The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.税务局一直在催她补交税款。

3 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

4 retaliating   

v.报复，反击( retaliate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The administration will begin retaliating in six weeks if EC policies remain unchanged. 凯特先生说，如果欧共体一意孤行，美国政府将于六周后开始报复。 来自互联网

5 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

6 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

7 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

8 slashed   

v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
• He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

10 retaliate   

v.报复，反击

参考例句：

• He sought every opportunity to retaliate against his enemy.他找机会向他的敌人反击。
• It is strictly forbidden to retaliate against the quality inspectors.严禁对质量检验人员进行打击报复。