English Explanatory Dictionary

eye for an eye

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting an identical injury on that person.

Pronunciation

en-au-eye for an eye.ogg

Word forms

eye for an eye

Etymology

Calque of Hebrew עין תחת עין (ayin tahat ayin), in reference to Exodus 21:23-25: "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe" (King James Version; spelling modernized).

Synonyms

a Roland for an Oliver tit for tat

Antonyms

turn the other cheek

Related words

an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind fight fire with fire internecine lex talionis mirror punishment mutual assured destruction race to the bottom two wrongs don't make a right
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