payback

Everyday

1. Payback is revenge: doing something bad to someone because they did something bad to you. tree →
2. Payback is also money paid back, or the time it takes to earn back the money you spent on something. tree →

In the lessons

In stories «payback» often means a character getting even, and the story usually shows that revenge is not a good answer. In money and maths, the «payback time» is how long until savings or earnings cover what you spent. Phrases: «it's payback time», «as payback for».

Examples

• The villain said, «It's payback time!» tree →
• He hid her shoes as payback for the prank. tree →
• Getting payback usually makes a fight worse, not better. tree →
• The solar panels have a payback time of eight years. tree →
• Our teacher said kindness is better than payback. tree →
• The payback on the lemonade stand came after we sold twenty cups. tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable, informal. Written as one word. «Pay back» (two words) is the verb: «I'll pay you back on Friday». In a money problem, payback time = cost ÷ savings per year (or per week).