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just deserts

Your just deserts are what you deserve, or the appropriate outcome for you. If you're mean to other people, your just deserts might be losing your friends.

The phrase just deserts is usually negative: "He got his just deserts after stealing all that money from the company." In other words, he got exactly what he deserved. You can also use it in a more positive way as well: "I'm so happy to see you get your just deserts after all your hard work." Desert is related to the word deserve, which is why it's spelled with only one s. The Latin root is deservire, "serve well."

Definitions of just deserts
  1. noun
    an outcome in which virtue triumphs over vice (often ironically)
    synonyms: poetic justice
    see moresee less
    type of:
    final result, outcome, result, resultant, termination
    something that results
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘just deserts'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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