with a vengeance 💥 - Forcefully, extremely hard. Vengeance, in this old expression, is not the same as “revenge” (see also revenge is sweet). It was already in print in 1533, bearing the same meaning it holds today. “Be gone quickly, or my pikestaff and I will set thee away with a vengeance,” wrote George Peele (King Edward I, 1593).
Synonyms 📚
- Forcefully
- Fervently
- With great intensity
- Vigorously
Antonyms 🚫
- Half-heartedly
- Lazily
- Weakly
- Timidly
Humorous Quotes 😂
- “I tried to bake cookies like my grandma, but they came out with a vengeance - more like rock biscuits than the chewy goodness I remember.”
Related Proverbs and Expressions 🌟
- All guns blazing: Starting with a lot of effort and force.
- Pull out all the stops: To make a great effort.
- Revved up: Full of energy and enthusiasm.
Literary & Pop Culture References 📚🎬
- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson: “The wind was blowing with a vengeance, and it was no time for trifling.”
- Kill Bill: Volume 1 Movie: When Uma Thurman’s character pursues revenge, she truly does so with a vengeance.
Inspirational & Thought-Provoking Farewell 🌄
Remember, sometimes life requires you to tackle challenges with a vengeance. Embrace your journey with fervor and intensity. Keep doing things with enthusiasm and passion, and you’ll move mountains. Farewell, and may your days be filled with unyielding gusto!
Now, test your idiom smarts with these fun quizzes!
### Which of these is synonymous with "with a vengeance"?
- [ ] With minor effort
- [x] With great intensity
- [ ] With gentle caution
- [ ] With subtlety
> **Explanation:** "With great intensity" is synonymous with "with a vengeance," indicating something done forcefully or emphatically.
### When was the earliest print record of "with a vengeance" found?
- [ ] 1200
- [ ] 1800
- [x] 1533
- [ ] 1920
> **Explanation:** The earliest known record of "with a vengeance" dates back to 1533, even used by Shakespeare later in the same context.
### True or False: "With a vengeance" and "Revenge is sweet" mean the same thing.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** Though they share the word "vengeance," "with a vengeance" means doing something with great intensity, whereas "revenge is sweet" conveys the pleasure derived from revenge.
### Which scenario best fits the term "with a vengeance"?
- [x] Emily cleaned the house with a vengeance after learning guests were coming.
- [ ] Josh made a sandwich with a vengeance when he was slightly hungry.
- [ ] Luna whispered her secrets with a vengeance to keep them safe.
- [ ] Sam lettuce and tomato taste-test was done with a vengeance.
> **Explanation:** "With a vengeance" implies an intense, forceful action, as seen when Emily cleans the house fervently in preparation for guests.
