Definition of even up

The phrase "even up" is used to indicate reversing an uneven situation or settling a debt, usually in a financial context. This expression originated in Britain during the late 1800s, and its meaning can be traced back to the game of bowls, a lawn sport similar to lawn green bowling or petanque. In bowls, players roll heavy balls, called bowls, toward a small target ball called a jack. The objective is to get as many bowls as close to the jack as possible. In competitive games, bowls may be placed close to the jack, making it challenging for opponents to move their ball closer. This results in an uneven score, known as "disparity." To even the playing field, the game permits players to roll a final bowl called a "drive," with the goal of pushing opponent's bowls away from the jack. As an alternative, a player may avail of a "measure," which involves moving the jack to an equal point and re-starting the game. The phrase "even up" first appeared in print in the English newspaper Daily Mail in 1886, pertaining to settle a bowls game's disparity. Eventually, it has become a commonly used term in English colloquialism, extending beyond bowls to other sporting and financial contexts. In modern times, "even up" denotes correcting an uneven situation by paying back an outstanding amount or repaying a favor.