get a taste of your own medicine
Meaning
To be treated the same unpleasant way you have treated others; to suffer the consequences of your own behavior.
Origin
From the idea of being forced to take a bitter remedy: someone who “dishes out” unpleasant treatment is made to take that same “medicine,” i.e., experience it personally.
Notes
Often carries a satisfied or ironic tone: someone is made to endure the same bad treatment they gave. Used in casual speech; can sound vindictive if celebrating someone’s misfortune.
Examples
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After years of teasing others, he finally got a taste of his own medicine when the new guys mocked him.
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The company that exploited freelancers got a taste of its own medicine when a rival poached all its talent.
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She kept spreading rumors, but she got a taste of her own medicine when one rumor turned back on her.
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If you keep interrupting people, don’t be surprised when you get a taste of your own medicine in meetings.
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The bully got a taste of his own medicine when his victim stood up and embarrassed him in front of everyone.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed core pattern: “get a taste of (one’s) own medicine.” Possessive changes (my/your/his/her/our/their). “Get” can inflect (gets/got/getting). Sometimes “have a taste of…” occurs.
Synonyms
- get a dose of your own medicine
- get your comeuppance
- face the music
- reap what you sow
- what goes around comes around
Antonyms
- get away with it
- go unpunished
- be treated fairly