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Synonyms

just deserts

Idioms  
  1. A deserved punishment or reward, as in He got his just deserts when Mary jilted him. This idiom employs desert in the sense of “what one deserves,” a usage dating from the 1300s but obsolete except in this expression.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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“Belief in just deserts was negatively associated with risk perception and positively associated with human rights restrictions,” the study reads.

From Washington Times Dec. 20, 2022

What a fitting way for Bruce Rollinson, coach of Mater Dei, to get his just deserts.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 3, 2022

What can you say about people getting their just deserts?

From Salon Nov. 18, 2022

There will be England fans who feel it is an overdue serving of just deserts.

From BBC Nov. 19, 2021

Theology has changed, over the years: just deserts used to be what everyone could expect to get, in the end.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

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