punish someone by something

punish someone by something
punish someone by something
to discipline someone by doing something. •

The headmaster punished the children by forcing them to go to bed early.

She punished herself by not eating.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • take someone or something seriously — take (someone or something) seriously : to treat (someone or something) as being very important and deserving attention or respect He takes his religious faith seriously. She s well qualified for the job, so she hopes the company will take her… …   Useful english dictionary

  • revenge yourself on someone (for something) — revenge yourself on someone (for something)/be revenged on someone (for something)/ phrase to hurt or punish someone because they have hurt you or someone else Eric wanted to revenge himself on John for his arrogance. Thesaurus: to treat someone… …   Useful english dictionary

  • be revenged on someone (for something) — revenge yourself on someone (for something)/be revenged on someone (for something)/ phrase to hurt or punish someone because they have hurt you or someone else Eric wanted to revenge himself on John for his arrogance. Thesaurus: to treat someone… …   Useful english dictionary

  • take it out on someone or something — tv. o punish or harm someone or something because one is angry or disturbed about something. □ I’m sorry about your difficulty, but don’t take it out on me. □ Don’t take it out on the cat …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • punish — pun|ish [ pʌnıʃ ] verb transitive often passive ** to make someone suffer because they have done something against the law or against the rules: Anyone caught smoking on school premises will be punished. punish someone for (doing) something: He… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • punish */*/ — UK [ˈpʌnɪʃ] / US verb [transitive, often passive] Word forms punish : present tense I/you/we/they punish he/she/it punishes present participle punishing past tense punished past participle punished to make someone suffer because they have done… …   English dictionary

  • punish — [[t]pʌ̱nɪʃ[/t]] punishes, punishing, punished 1) VERB To punish someone means to make them suffer in some way because they have done something wrong. [V n] I don t believe that George ever had to punish the children... [V n] According to present… …   English dictionary

  • the knives are out for someone — the knives are out (for someone) used to say that people are ready to blame or punish someone for something often in a way that is unfair They lost yet another important game, and now the knives are out for their coach. • • • Main Entry: ↑knife …   Useful english dictionary

  • punish — pun|ish [ˈpʌnıʃ] v [T] [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: punir, from Latin punire, from poena; PAIN1] 1.) to make someone suffer because they have done something wrong or broken the law →↑punishment, punitive ↑punitive ▪ Smacking is not an… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • punish — verb (T) 1 to make someone suffer because they have done something wrong or broken the law: Some people believe that smacking is not an acceptable way to punish a child. | In some countries women who have abortions can be punished by imprisonment …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • punish*/ — [ˈpʌnɪʃ] verb [T] to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something bad or illegal He was punished for stealing.[/ex] • punish yourself to do something that makes you suffer[/ex] Why punish yourself by working harder than you …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

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