GET EVEN

{v.}, {informal} 1. To owe nothing. * /Mr. Johnson has a lot of debts, but in a few years he will get even./ 2. To do something bad to pay someone back for something bad; get revenge; hurt back. * /Jack is waiting to get even with Bill for tearing up his notebook./ * /Last April First Mr. Harris got fooled by Joe, and this year he will get even./ Compare: GET BACK AT.