Get Back At

Pronunciation: /ɡɛt bæk æt/

Definitions of get back at

verb to take revenge or retaliate against someone

Example Sentences

A1 I want to get back at my brother for hiding my toy.

A2 She decided to get back at her friend by playing a prank on him.

B1 He planned to get back at his boss by quitting his job without notice.

B2 She found a way to get back at her rival by outperforming them in the competition.

C1 The politician vowed to get back at his opponents by launching a smear campaign against them.

C2 Despite the betrayal, she chose not to get back at her former business partner and instead focused on moving forward.

preposition used to indicate the target of the revenge or retaliation

Example Sentences

A1 I want to get back at my brother for hiding my toys.

A2 She got back at her friend by playing a prank on him.

B1 He decided to get back at his boss by quitting his job.

B2 The team planned to get back at their rivals by winning the championship.

C1 She found a way to get back at her ex-boyfriend for cheating on her.

C2 The politician vowed to get back at his opponents during the next election campaign.

Examples of get back at in a Sentence

formal She decided to get back at her coworker by reporting their unethical behavior to HR.

informal I'm going to get back at my brother by hiding his phone.

slang I'll get back at that jerk by spreading rumors about him.

figurative The storm will get back at us for not preparing properly.

Grammatical Forms of get back at

• past tense: got back at
• plural: get back at
• comparative: more getting back at
• superlative: most getting back at
• present tense: gets back at
• future tense: will get back at
• perfect tense: has got back at
• continuous tense: is getting back at
• singular: gets back at
• positive degree: get back at
• infinitive: to get back at
• gerund: getting back at
• participle: gotten back at

Origin and Evolution of get back at

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'get back at' originated from the concept of seeking revenge or retaliation against someone for a perceived wrongdoing.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'get back at' has become a common expression in English to describe seeking revenge or retribution against someone who has wronged you. The usage of the phrase has evolved to encompass various forms of retaliation, from minor pranks to more serious acts of vengeance.