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pay back — 2 meanings

Same words, different jobs. Compare the meanings side by side so you know which one fits the situation.

phrasal verb2 meanings
pay backsame phrase

Which one do you mean?

return money

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

get revenge

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

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Meanings in detail

1. return money

B1neutralboth

to give someone the money that you borrowed from them.

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

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2. get revenge

B2informalspoken

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

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

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