Revenge is Sweet: Brits Carry Out Four Revenge Acts a Year Each!

Ever been so angry with a partner, friend or colleague that you’ve carefully plotted your revenge. Nothing too extreme, of course, but a little comeback that will salve that nagging feeling of annoyance and put a nice smug smile on your face? 

Of course you don’t want to admit it – none of us do. But on the off-chance you’re hiding the fact that deep down you have, indeed, experienced that desire to get your retribution you’ll be pleased to know you’re not alone.

According to new research, us Brits carry out four acts of revenge every week on people who have annoyed us. Nothing huge – the little acts of vengeance include telling a colleague the end of a TV series, hiding the remote and adding sugar to a dieter’s cup of tea, along with deliberately not telling someone they’ve got something stuck in their teeth or ‘accidentally’ forgetting a friend’s birthday. 

The results, from a poll of 2,000 adults, coincide with the home entertainment release of Rambo: Last Blood, but luckily none of the acts of retribution are quite as extreme as his!

The poll also revealed some of the reasons that inspire us to acts of revenge, including being talked down to (22%), learning that someone has been talking about you behind your back (30%) and being irritated by someone (23%). More than half (52%) of those polled said it was women who were much more likely to retaliate with an act of revenge than men, while the survey also revealed that people are more likely to have carried out an act of revenge on a work colleague (19%) than an ex-partner (18%) with one in 20 (5%) seeking revenge on their current partner’s ex.

One in five people (20%) said they carry out little acts of revenge so people don’t cross them, with the same amount saying they do it to make themselves feel better and the same again saying it helps put someone in their place, while just 14% said they do it for a laugh and for banter. 

Of course – we’re not suggesting that getting your own back is a good idea or that it’s a guilt-free revenge. In fact, four in ten people (39%) admitted feeling a twinge of guilt after getting their own back on someone, according to the poll – but a quarter (25%) said they felt great. Just over four in ten people (44%) said carrying out little acts of revenge was harmless, but 56% felt it could be a bit mean.

So maybe think twice next time you’re planning that sweet revenge – but remember, you’re definitely not alone…

COMMON ACTS OF REVENGE

Told someone they look well, when you meant fat     12%
Left someone out of social plans they’d normally be invited to    11%
Grassed up a colleague to the boss for making a mistake    10%
Not told someone they had food in their teeth      10%
Failed to mention a new haircut       8%
Not mentioned someone’s weight loss       8%
Made a drink for everyone apart from the person in question    8%
Flirted with someone’s partner on a night out      8%
Told someone the ending of a gripping boxset      7%
Hidden the remote so someone misses a TV show     7%
Deliberately uploaded an unflattering photo of on social media    6%
Kissed someone’s ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend      6%
Used the last of the hot water so your partner has a cold shower   6%
Given someone caffeinated coffee when they asked for decaf    5%
Put sugar in the tea of someone who’s dieting      5%
Used the last of a co-worker’s milk       5%
Spat in someone’s tea or coffee        5%
Said ‘Congrats, how far gone are you?’ when you know they’re not pregnant  5%
Eaten a co-worker’s packet of crisps       4%
Left the petrol tank empty for when your other half next drives the car   4%