An Eye for an Eye
2024-09-01
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2Today we talk to you about expressions dealing with payback, getting even, and revenge.
3When 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.
4The Merriam-Webster online dictionary describes it as a "repayment in kind as revenge for an injustice."
5In kind means "in the same way."
6The expression an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is ancient.
7It appears in The Bible and in The Code of Hammurabi, a set of laws written by the ancient Babylonian king of that name.
8An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth describes a way of thinking.
9It is the idea that retaliating in kind is the best way to deal with a crime or some other offense.
10It is the idea that a person who causes someone to suffer should suffer in the same amount and in the same way.
11For example, if someone did something to hurt you, you would want to hurt them equally.
12To remind others of the proverb, people often simply say an eye for an eye.
13For some people, every second counts when they are looking to settle a score.
14For others, the revenge method might require patience.
15Some people wait years or a lifetime to get their revenge.
16The way people settle the score can be very different.
17Some cultures have this expression: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
18The idea is that settling the score over time without emotion is the best way.
19A similar expression is tit for tat.
20Tit for tat is often used to describe diplomatic disagreements between nations.
21It is hundreds of years old. Both "tit" and "tat" mean the same thing: a "strike" or a "blow."
22Experts say the expression changed from tip for tap to its present form after years of sound changes in the English language.
23Tit for tat literally means blow for blow.
24Merriam-Webster says it is: "An equal return given for some wrong that's been done."
25Now, let's hear two friends use some revenge expressions.
26A: Did you hear what happened to Tom? Someone slashed his tires!
27It cost him hundreds of dollars to replace the ruined tires.
28B: That sounds awful. Does he know who did it?
29A: He suspects it was his ex-girlfriend, Diana.
30B: Why?
31A: Well, he scratched up the paint on her car last week.
32I'm still friends with Diana and she told me a security camera caught him doing it.
33It cost her hundreds of dollars to repaint her car.
34B: Well, it sounds like they're even now. You know, an eye for an eye and all that...
35And that's Words and Their Stories. Until next time ...
36I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2Today we talk to you about expressions dealing with payback, getting even, and revenge. 3When 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. 4The Merriam-Webster online dictionary describes it as a "repayment in kind as revenge for an injustice." 5In kind means "in the same way." 6The 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. 7An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth describes a way of thinking. It is the idea that retaliating in kind is the best way to deal with a crime or some other offense. 8It 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. 9To remind others of the proverb, people often simply say an eye for an eye. 10For 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. 11The 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. 12A similar expression is tit for tat. 13Tit 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. 14Tit for tat literally means blow for blow. Merriam-Webster says it is: "An equal return given for some wrong that's been done." 15Now, let's hear two friends use some revenge expressions. 16A: Did you hear what happened to Tom? Someone slashed his tires! It cost him hundreds of dollars to replace the ruined tires. 17B: That sounds awful. Does he know who did it? 18A: He suspects it was his ex-girlfriend, Diana. 19B: Why? 20A: 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. 21B: Well, it sounds like they're even now. You know, an eye for an eye and all that... 22And that's Words and Their Stories. Until next time ... 23I'm Anna Matteo. 24Anna Matteo and Mario Ritter wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 25_____________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27revenge -n. hurting someone because they hurt you first 28score -n. an accounting in numbers or some other measure that shows who is winning and who is losing in a competition 29proverb -n. a short saying that expresses what people recognize as a truth or important idea 30retaliate -v. to strike back against a wrong or attack 31literally -adv. formally defined as 32slash -v. to use a knife or similar instrument to cut into something and severely damage it 33We want to hear from you. Do you have similar expressions in your language? In the Comments section, you can also practice using any of the expressions from the story. Our comment policy is here.