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pay back — 2 meanings

One phrase, 2 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb2 meanings
pay back
return moneyget revenge

Meaning 1 · most common

return money

  • pay back sb

to give someone the money that you borrowed from them.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

I’ll pay you back as soon as I get my salary.

A: Can you lend me $20 until Friday?
B: Sure, just pay me back when you can.

Common mistake

Not: I'll pay back you tomorrow.

Say: I'll pay you back tomorrow.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'pay you back'.

More on “return money”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If I ever borrow money from a friend, I always make sure to pay them back quickly because I don’t want to damage our relationship.

Tell it apart

I paid him back the £20.

  • returned money owed

I paid for his lunch.

  • covered the cost

Goes with

  • pay + back + money
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Next meaning: get revenge

Meaning 2

get revenge

  • pay sb back for sth
  • informal

to do something to someone because they did something bad to you first.

How oftenNow and then
LevelB2
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

She played a prank on me, so I paid her back by hiding her phone.

A: Why did you put salt in my coffee?
B: That’s for last week—you paid me back!

Common mistake

Not: I'll pay back him for that.

Say: I'll pay him back for that.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'pay him back'.

More on “get revenge”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Sometimes, people feel the need to pay someone back if they’ve been treated unfairly, but I think it’s better to just move on.

Tell it apart

I'll pay him back for humiliating me.

  • get revenge

I'll pay him back the £20.

  • return money owed

Goes with

  • pay + someone + back
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return moneyget revenge