Just deserts

Meaning

The idiom "just deserts" refers to a situation where someone gets what they deserve, often in the form of punishment or reward. It is a metaphorical expression that suggests that everyone should receive what they have earned based on their actions or behavior.

Usage

• After committing the theft, he was finally caught and received just deserts for his crime.
• Despite her hard work, she didn't get the promotion and felt like she didn't deserve it.
• When he lost the game, he could only accept that he got just deserts for not preparing enough.
• The restaurant had poor service and food quality, so they received just deserts for their negligence.
• After years of hard work, she finally earned a promotion, but felt like she didn't deserve it and got just deserts for her efforts.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "just deserts" can be traced back to medieval times when punishments were meted out to criminals based on their crimes. The phrase was often used in legal proceedings to describe the punishment that someone deserved for their actions. Over time, the expression evolved into a general concept of receiving what you deserve in any situation, whether it's positive or negative.

Synonyms in English

• Just rewards
• Just desserts
• Payback
• Karma
• Righteous retribution

Synonyms in other languages

• Español: justo castigo
• Français: juste récompense
• Deutsch: gerechte Strafe
• Russian: справедливость
• Chinese: 正义饮马蔽 (zhèng yǐ shí mǎ lìng)

Similar Idioms

• sneak peek

• bump into

• cut and dried