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to the victor belong the spoils

Idioms  

  1. The winner gets everything, as in He not only won the tournament but ended up with numerous lucrative endorsements—to the victor belong the spoils. This expression alludes to the spoils system of American politics, whereby the winner of an election gives desirable jobs to party supporters. [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

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The famous slogan, "to the victor belong the spoils of victory," became the avowed principle of the national government.

From History of the United States by Beard, Charles A. (Charles Austin)

The popular saying, "to the victor belong the spoils," does not hold good in Japan!

From A Short History of Russia by Parmele, Mary Platt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.