to get even with someone for bad behavior. • John tripped me, so I punched him. That ought to teach him a lesson. • That taught me a lesson. I won't do it again.
Abject lesson
(India) An abject lesson serves as a warning to others. (In some varieties of English 'object lesson' is used.)
Object lesson
An object lesson serves as a warning to others. (In some varieties of English 'abject lesson' is used.)
teach a lesson|lesson|teach
v. phr. To show that bad behavior can be harmful. When Johnny pulled Mary's hair, she taught him a lesson by breaking his toy boat.The burns Tommy got from playing with matches taught him a lesson.
learn one's lesson
learn one's lesson Profit from experience, especially an unhappy one. For example, From now on she'd read the instructions first; she'd learned her lesson. Also see hard way, the.
teach a lesson Punish in order to prevent a recurrence of bad behavior. For example, Timmy set the wastebasket on fire; that should teach him a lesson about playing with matches. This term uses lesson in the sense of “a punishment or rebuke,” a usage dating from the late 1500s. Also see learn one's lesson.
An lesson idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with lesson, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb lesson