with a vengeance

W

with a vengeance (idiom)
/ˌwɪð ə ˈvɛn.dʒəns/

Meanings

• Happening with great force, intensity, or strength, often more powerfully than expected. (figurative; most common)
• Returning suddenly and strongly after a period of absence. (figurative)
• Done with extreme determination, energy, or seriousness. (figurative)
• In a manner driven by revenge or a desire to retaliate. (literal)

Synonyms: intensely; fiercely; forcefully; aggressively; with full force; powerfully.

Example Sentences

1. The cold weather returned with a vengeance, catching everyone unprepared.
2. His bad habits came back with a vengeance after the vacation ended.
3. She attacked the problem with a vengeance, determined to solve it before nightfall.
4. He promised to respond with a vengeance after years of humiliation. (literal)

Etymology and Origin

The idiom “with a vengeance” stems from the noun “vengeance,” which entered English around 1300 via Anglo-French and Old French, denoting retribution or punishment. This term ultimately derives from Latin “vindicare,” meaning to claim or punish. The phrase itself functions as an intensifier, conveying extreme force, energy, or degree in an action, shifting from its original literal sense of revenge to a broader figurative application over centuries.

Historical Development

The expression began appearing in English texts during the mid-sixteenth century, often in literary and dramatic works to amplify descriptions of intensity or severity. It gained prominence in the seventeenth century through plays and prose, evolving into a common adverbial form by the eighteenth century, where it emphasized vigorous or excessive occurrences. This progression reflects broader linguistic trends in English, where idiomatic phrases adapted from emotional or punitive contexts became staples in both spoken and written language, enduring into modern usage.

Theories on Origin

Scholars propose that the phrase emerged from the inherent association of vengeance with overwhelming force or passion, allowing it to extend metaphorically as an intensifier. A related view connects it to earlier English constructions pairing “with” and nouns signifying misfortune or curse, such as archaic forms implying mischief or plague, which influenced its structure and meaning. These theories highlight semantic broadening through analogy and frequent use in dramatic literature, transforming a literal notion of retaliation into an emphatic rhetorical tool without linkage to specific events.

Country of Origin

The idiom originated in England, emerging within the context of early modern English during the Renaissance. Initial documented instances appear in works by English writers, underscoring its development amid the cultural and linguistic innovations of the British Isles.

Earliest Printed Record

The first known printed occurrence is in the 1567 work “Certaine Tragicall Discourses written out of Frenche and Latin” by Geoffrey Fenton. The phrase appears in the context:

“So that the Emperour was greatly incensed against them and commaunded his gard they should send them packing with a vengeance.”

This establishes it as the earliest documented instance in print, firmly anchoring the idiom’s debut in sixteenth-century English literature.

Variants

• come back with a vengeance
• return with a vengeance
• hit back with a vengeance
• strike with a vengeance

Against, Anger, Feeling