‘Petty but helpful’: Brother gets subtle revenge on his condescending brother-in-law after his sister reveals his incompetence, woodworker for the win

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
May 13, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Marriage isn't all roses and romance—that's common knowledge at this point. Nobody is denying that marriage has its ups and downs. It's about working through them that can make a couple stronger. However, all too often, couples opt for petty revenge and passive aggression. Others try very hard not to take that path, but sometimes it is unavoidable. 

 

For instance, this couple: The wife has been begging her husband to do some chores that she physically can't or doesn't have the know-how to do. He keeps saying he will, but it has been months—sound familiar? Well, luckily this wife has an awesome big brother. Though she could've been passive aggressive to her husband, she opted not to. However, her brother sure didn't choose that option. 

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  • The brother already does not like this husband, so when he heard of his incompetence, he was more than happy to take the time to make him look even worse. He not only did all of the chores his sister was asking him to do, he did it in only half a day. Now his sister will have a lifetime of being able to say, “honey, can you do this or do I have to ask my brother?” Petty yet helpful! We love it. 

  • 000
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • My brother in law is annoying and comes off at times as condescending which I think is due to being insecure so I hold my tongue often. A while back my wife and I visited
    via Acceptable_Noise651
  • her sister and him for a long weekend. While he was at work (police officer) she complained about all these chores he hasn't done and kids furniture and toys
    via Acceptable_Noise651
  • not assembled etc. My wife offered for me to take care of some of it which I gladly jumped on, the furniture and toys took me under an hour (I'm a woodworker that
    via Acceptable_Noise651
  • makes furniture lol) and of course I had to comment on his anemic collection of useless tools. After that I went into their garage and broke down and an almost packed
    via Acceptable_Noise651
  • garage of cardboard boxes. Noticed some kitchen cabinet doors were misaligned those got adjusted too and for the icing on the cake it snowed a few a days prior to us
    via Acceptable_Noise651
  • Cheezburger Image 10504719872
    via Unsplash+ (and Curated Lifestyle)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • arriving, he neglected to shovel so I shoveled even cleaning up the hard packed snow/ice in the driveway from him driving over it for a few days. For the rest of the
    via Acceptable_Noise651
  • weekend I was a rockstar and he had to hear it from his wife that everything he procrastinated on for months took me half a day. I pick and choose my battles wisely with my
    via Acceptable_Noise651
  • brother in law as we're both in it for the long term so my strategy has always been subtle revenge.
    via Acceptable_Noise651
  • Wayward Histori... I like this one. Petty, but helpful. This is the kind of revenge where other people are happy, and the revenge recipient can't complain without looking like a chump.
    via WaywardHistorian667
  • Laughorcryliveor... You are welcome to practice revenge at our place →
    via Laughorcryliveordie
  • TheOtherElCamino It gives a new meaning to "sweet" revenge because it's so wholesome. And I bet it grinds his gears
    via TheOtherElCamino
  • holy-reddit-bat... Your SIL is going to get sooo much mileage on your petty revenge! Dude, she's going to hold it over his head for YEARS!
    via holy-reddit-batman
  • TheAnti-Karen Sir I love this because your revenge isn't even really coming from you, his wife will complain about him. not doing things and how much better you were at doing it for years this will
    via TheAnti-Karen
  • Thakita
    via Unsplash+ (and Theme Photos)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • bed g up and arguments 10 years from now how he couldn't do it and you did. You went long-term petty and I am here for that in every way shape and form
    via TheAnti-Karen
  • foundmyselfhere... This was the nicest most helpful brother in law revenge ever!! You get to be the golden boy!!
    via foundmyselfheregr8
  • Reasonable_Star... lol! He will probably hear about this for years to come!! Just to make a point and drive it home. Good job! I bet your wife was so proud of you!
    via Reasonable_Star_959
  • aussiedoc58 Methinks the lady may get significant mileage from this. "Honey, could you please do <this thing> or should I wait and ask <BIL> when he visits next?"
    via aussiedoc58
  • III_Industry6452 Yours is the type of petty revenge I love. It helps everyone. You look great. Your lack-a-daisical brother in law is likely to do more that his family needs because of your example.
    via Ill_Industry6452

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