秋后算账

秋后算账

Literally means:

settle accounts after the autumn harvest

Actually means:

bide one' time to take revenge

It originally means farmers settle their annual accounts after the autumn harvest. It figuratively means, instead of settling a dispute immdsiately after it occurs, on waits until the whole thing is over and bides his time to clear the scores with somebody. It can also mean biding one's time to take revenge. Derogatory.

原指农村里在秋天农作物收获后再结算一年的收入和支出的账目。比喻出了事情不马上处理，等事情过后的某个时候再来评判谁对谁错的问题，或追究责任。也比喻等待事情过后再找机会报复。具有贬义色彩。