wreak vengeance on

wreak vengeance on (someone or something)

To get revenge on someone or some group in a particularly harmful, violent, or malicious manner. The king began amassing an army in order to wreak vengeance on the nation that had attacked the kingdom. She swore he would wreak vengeance on the man who double-crossed her.
See also: on, vengeance, wreak
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wreak vengeance (up)on someone or something

Cliché to seek and get revenge on someone by harming someone or something. The gangster wreaked his vengeance by destroying his rival's house. The general wanted to wreak vengeance on the opposing army for their recent successful attack.
See also: on, vengeance, wreak
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • wreak vengeance on (someone or something)
  • wreak vengeance upon (someone or something)
  • do (someone) a bad turn
  • leer
  • leer at
  • leer at (someone or something)
  • dine with the devil
  • sup with the devil
  • give (someone) a ribbing
  • spooked
References in classic literature
Yes, I would bear my sorrows, and become great, that in a day to be I might wreak vengeance on the king.
Nada The Lily
Outraged labor continued to wreak vengeance on the traitors.
The Iron Heel
But in a move apparently meant to wreak vengeance on the county lawmakers, Finance executive Mary Nguli recalled a letter she had sent to the Controller of Budget a day earlier.
Row over budget to delay Kitui MCAs, staff salaries
After his family is killed by a malevolent deity, he must wreak vengeance on a legion of generic goons via clumsy combo-based combat.
Blood and gory hides weak story
The abuse continued until she decided to wreak vengeance on her tormentor, according to the police official.
Enraged woman does a Bobbit
Kill Bill Vol 1 (18) Bride Uma Thurman awakes from a four-year coma to wreak vengeance on those who tried to slay her on her wedding day.
Film clips
Having spent her entire life caring for a wheelchair-bound single parent, young Julia (Alexandra Schalaudek) is focused on just one thing: Finding some way to wreak vengeance on the father she's never met -- he abandoned both mother and unborn child after his ex-g.f.'s paralyzing accident.
The Wound. (Berlin & Beyond In Brief)
Without becoming hysterical and threatening to wreak vengeance on evil peddlers Mr Spinks has, refreshingly, spoken sense.
Sue Carroll's column: DRUGS TRUTH
RIO FERDINAND has promised to wreak vengeance on Aston Villa tomorrow after claiming West Ham had been "cheated" out of a possible Wembley trip.
Football: 'CHEATED' RIO EYES REVENGE