settle a score

Idioms  

1. Also,. Get even, avenge a grievance or an injury. For example, Wendy settled an old score with Bill when she made him wait for half an hour in the rain. These expressions, dating from the mid-1800s to early 1900s, all use score in the sense of “an account” or “bill.” Also see pay off, def. 3.

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Example Sentences

In a town near the southern city of Foggia, police believe a hitman took advantage of the chaos in the streets to settle a score, shooting dead his target in the crowd before escaping on a motorbike.

From Reuters

Individuals armed with rage and a firearm no longer care whom they injure or kill in their desire to settle a score, the detectives say.

From Washington Post

THE BEST-CASE scenario is that President Trump’s firing-by-Twitter of Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper on Monday was a reckless act of vindictiveness by a lame-duck president who wanted to settle a score.

From Washington Post

So he had sent a threat to Cintron — something about meeting anyplace at any time to settle a score — via Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.

From New York Times

ZWEIBEL: What would the point be to either settle a score, as you say, or to speak negatively?

From Washington Times

Related Words

• pay back
• repay