avenge oneself

avenge (oneself)

To retaliate against another for a wrong done to oneself; to get revenge. Tiffany is always gossiping about me, so I avenged myself by starting a rumor about her. How do you plan to avenge yourself for their act of sabotage?
See also: avenge
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

avenge oneself (on someone or something) (for something)

 and avenge oneself (against someone or something) (for something)
to get even with, or take revenge against someone or something for some hurt or damage. They avenged themselves on the enemy for the surprise attack. He avenged himself against the storekeeper for the false charges. Mary avenged herself for her ex-husband's neglect to pay child support. Tom avenged himself on Bill for Bill's previous insults.
See also: avenge
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • avenge
  • avenge (oneself)
  • seek revenge
  • seek revenge (against/on someone or something)
  • get revenge
  • revenge
  • avenge (oneself) for (something)
  • take revenge
  • take revenge (against/on someone or something)
  • revenge oneself on
References in periodicals archive
One cannot avenge oneself upon history: History is its own revenge.
The siege of the Taj Mahal
(3) Anger was considered a vice because itis the desire to avenge oneself that breeds insults, discord, violence, and a train of other sins.
God's wrath against the wrathful in medieval mendicant preaching