poetic justice
noun
an ideal distribution of rewards and punishments such as is common in some poetry and fiction.
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decorum
Origin of poetic justice
First recorded in 1720–30
Words nearby poetic justice
poet., poetaster, poetess, poetic, poetic edda, poetic justice, poetic licence, poetic license, poeticism, poeticize, poetics
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for poetic justice
poetic justice
noun
fitting retribution; just deserts
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Idioms and Phrases with poetic justice
poetic justice
An outcome in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner. For example, It was poetic justice for the known thief to go to jail for the one crime he didn't commit. [Early 1700s]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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