balance the accounts
balance the accounts
1. To review the finances of a person or company, making sure that all money is accounted for and that expenditures do not exceed available income. Susie in payroll is balancing the accounts right now. I need to balance the accounts and determine if I can afford to go on a vacation this summer.
2. To get revenge for a prior misdeed. Tiffany is always gossiping about me, so I balanced the accounts by starting a rumor about her.
See also: account, balance
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
balance the accounts
1. Lit. and balance the books to determine through bookkeeping that accounts are in balance, that all money is accounted for. Jane was up all night balancing the accounts. The cashier was not allowed to leave the bank until the manager balanced the books.
2. Fig. to get even [with someone]. Tom hit Bob. Bob balanced the accounts by breaking Tom's toy car. Once we have balanced the accounts, we can shake hands and be friends again.
See also: account, balance
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves
- take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves
- take care of the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves
- tighten the purse strings
- loosen the purse strings
- beyond (one's) means
- beyond means
- beyond one's means
- quarrel (with one) over (something)
- quarrel with