“Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on October 17, 2024 by Liam Daniel

Have you ever heard someone use the term “revenge is a dish best served cold” and wondered what the saying meant? We are going to take a look at the meaning of this phrase as well as looking at where it first came from. We will also be looking at some examples of the phrase being used within sentences and conversations in order to better understand its function.

“Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • The phrase “revenge is a dish best served cold” means that revenge is more satisfying when it is not enacted immediately, but rather after some time has passed. The saying suggests that taking time to plan and execute revenge can lead to a more effective and impactful outcome.
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“Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold” Meaning

The phrase “revenge is a dish best served cold” means that revenge is more satisfying or effective when it is not enacted immediately or in the heat of the moment. Instead, waiting to take revenge allows for more calculated and thoughtful actions, making the outcome more impactful.

Examples:

  • “He knew that acting out of anger would only lead to more trouble; after all, revenge is a dish best served cold.”
  • “In the movie, the protagonist takes her time plotting her revenge, proving that revenge is a dish best served cold.”

Origin of This Idiom

The phrase revenge is a dish best served cold finds its origins in the mid 1800’s from a text written by Eugene Sue called Memoirs of Matilda which was written in French and when directly translated actually reads revenge is good when eaten cold, so the vulgar folks say.

Usage of “Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold”

  • In a discussion about personal conflicts:

“After their argument, she knew that confronting him right away wouldn’t help; she believed revenge is a dish best served cold.”

  • Talking about a long-term plan:

“He took his time gathering evidence against his rival, knowing that revenge is a dish best served cold.”

  • During a conversation about storytelling:

“The plot twist where the hero finally gets his revenge after years of planning shows that revenge is a dish best served cold.”

  • In a humorous context:

“After his prank backfired, he decided to wait for the perfect opportunity to get back at his friend, thinking revenge is a dish best served cold.”

Related Terms to “Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold”

  • Sweet revenge – the pleasure derived from successfully getting back at someone.
  • Payback – a colloquial term for retaliation or revenge.
  • Retribution – the act of taking revenge, often in a formal or legal context.
  • Vengeance – the act of inflicting harm in return for a perceived wrong.
  • Karma – the concept that a person’s actions will eventually come back to them, positively or negatively.
  • Hold a grudge – to maintain a persistent feeling of resentment against someone.
  • Bide your time – to wait for the right moment to take action, often in a strategic manner.
  • Plotting revenge – carefully planning how to retaliate against someone.
  • Revenge is a dish best enjoyed cold – a variation of the original phrase, emphasizing the satisfaction of delayed revenge.
  • Waiting for the right moment – implying that timing is crucial when it comes to enacting revenge or justice.

Other Ways to Say the Idiom

There are other ways in which you might express the meaning of the term revenge is a dish best served cold, here are some examples of other things you could say.

  • I will bide my time
  • Revenge is sweeter after time

“Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold” Examples

Examples in Statements

There may be many instances in which one would use the phrase revenge is a dish best served cold. We are now going to take a look at some examples of the phrase in sentences.

The first statement is from a news report.

  • The men finally retaliated in battle, it has taken a long time but revenge certainly appears to be a dish that is best served cold.

This next statement is from a scorned lover.

  • He will regret doing this to me, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow because revenge is a dish best served cold.

Conversation Examples

If you are curious to see how the term revenge is a dish best served cold can work in a conversation, here are some examples to demonstrate its use.

The first conversation is taking place in the workplace.

  • Person 1: “The boss has just fired me, for something I didn’t do!”
  • Person 2: “I’m so sorry, what are you going to do?”
  • Person 1: “Bide my time, revenge is a dish best served cold.”

This next conversation is happening between two friends.

  • Person 1: “I am never speaking to Sarah again after what she did.”
  • Person 2: “Are you not going to get your own back?”
  • Person 1: “In time I will, revenge is a dish best served cold.”
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