even the score

even the score

To avenge a wrong or make an unfair situation more equal. After Danny stole my girlfriend, I had to even the score by dating his ex. After taking a big hit, Scott tried to even the score with one of his own, but he ended up getting a penalty.
See also: even, score
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

ˌeven the ˈscore

harm or punish somebody who has harmed or cheated you in the past: When he discovered how Martha had tricked him, Jack was determined to even the score. OPPOSITE: call it quits
See also: even, score
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • steal out of some place
  • steal a look (at someone or something)
  • settle old scores, to
  • steal a glance (at someone or something)
  • steal a glance at
  • steal a glance/look
  • avenge (oneself) against (someone or something) for (something)
  • scumbag
  • avenge (oneself) for (something)
  • steal away
References in periodicals archive
Tigers were by no means cowed, and taking advantage of a Sharks penalty, struck back to even the scores again on the powerplay, Richard Plant scoring from Andrew McKinney and Jonathan Weaver.
For me, it will even the score. At least everyone got a taste of it.
These tactics are working: Even the Score's backers include FSD manufacturers as well as prominent women's rights groups, reproductive justice groups, and many legislators, too.
Gardner's Bailey Miller redirected Courtney Braman's shot from the point 6:39 into the second period to even the score.
I had gone through years of self-loathing and denial as a teenager, and I felt this somehow helped even the score.
A SON of Even The Score, sire of this season's leading American three-year-old Dullahan, topped the eighth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on Tuesday night when selling to Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables for $260,000.
Bento's men were 2-1 down when Bruno Alves stepped up to the spot in a bid to even the score.
"Malbon was stretchered off in the 3-0 defeat to Mansfield but was said to be aware of his surroundings and even the score of the game at the point of his injury as he was carried into the air ambulance, which had landed on the Aggborough turf."
Then came a great move from Sherwood, who''s accurate pass to Westwick resulted in him hitting the ball from the edge of the box to even the score. Redcar gave away another penalty but Paice saved again.
Summary: Amir Khan has declared his intention to even the score against Lamont Peterson when the two meet for a Las Vegas rematch in May.
We had some very good chances to even the score or even to score first.
On Wednesday, Dunston UTS played Spennymoor Town in a Durham Challenge Cup semi-final but in Thursday's Journal there was no mention of this match at all, not even the score.
Iran said Wednesday that the Gulf region has become under its "fiery" control and that it will even the score if any country searched its Iranian ships, adding that the Strait of Hormuz has fallen into its grasp, the Saudi daily AL WATAN reported Wednesday.
The match has taken place at Butts Park Arena for the past five years and King Henry will be looking to even the score as Bablake have four of those games.
But as Sam and his friends set out to even the score, they soon discover that George may not be the monster they thought and that their revenge could have monstrous consequences of its own.