Do justice to

Meaning

The idiom "do justice to" means to describe something or someone in a fair and accurate way, especially after it has been experienced or observed. It can also mean to criticize or judge someone or something harshly.

Usage

• The review did justice to the restaurant's cuisine by highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.
• She was disappointed when her boss did not do justice to her contributions during the meeting.
• The painting does justice to the beauty of nature.
• The journalist did justice to the complex issue by presenting all sides of the story.
• The book does justice to the struggle of women's rights in history. The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context. For example, it can be used to describe a review or critique that is fair and accurate, or it can be used to criticize someone harshly. It can also be used to describe an action that does not go far enough or is not severe enough in its judgment.

Roots and History

The idiom "do justice to" has been used since the 16th century and was first recorded in William Shakespeare's play Henry VI, Part II. In this context, the phrase "does him justice" means that the character does not receive a fair or accurate description. The phrase has since evolved to mean "to describe something accurately and fairly."

Synonyms in English

• Describe accurately
• Critique
• Evaluate
• Assess
• Judge

Synonyms in other languages

• 評估 in Chinese (pǔjiǔ)
• 评论 in Spanish (comentario)
• 分析 in German (analyse)
• 평가 in French (évaluation)
• 分析 in Italian (analisi)

Similar Idioms

• do or die

• double take

• goose egg