comeuppance
C1Informal, often figurative.
Definition
Meaning
A punishment or bad outcome that someone deserves because of their bad behavior or actions, especially an arrogant person being humbled.
Poetic justice; retributive justice, often with an ironic or satisfying element where the punishment fits the crime.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always singular, uncountable noun. Carries a strong connotation of moral satisfaction for the observer. Often used with a sense of inevitability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is used in both varieties with the same connotations.
Connotations
Slightly old-fashioned, literary, or narrative in tone in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar, moderate frequency in both. Possibly more common in written narrative (e.g., journalism, fiction) than in casual speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] got their comeuppance.[Subject] finally received the comeuppance they deserved.It was a fitting comeuppance for [bad action].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get one's comeuppance”
- “serve someone their comeuppance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when a corrupt or overly aggressive competitor or executive fails due to their own hubris. 'The CEO's fraudulent schemes finally caught up with him; it was a spectacular comeuppance.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. Might appear in literary criticism, history, or sociology discussing narratives of justice.
Everyday
Used when discussing someone who was rude, arrogant, or dishonest finally facing consequences. 'After cheating everyone for years, he got his comeuppance when he was finally arrested.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'comeuppance' is only a noun.
American English
- N/A - 'comeuppance' is only a noun.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bully finally got his comeuppance.
- After years of exploiting his workers, the greedy landlord received his long-overdue comeuppance when the authorities shut down his properties.
- The film's plot hinges on the villain's poetic comeuppance, wherein the very trap he set for the hero is the instrument of his own downfall.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COME UP' + 'DANCE' → Imagine someone who bragged they would 'come up' and win the dance competition, but they trip and fall. That's their deserved 'comeuppance'.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A BALANCING OF SCALES (a deserved setback restores moral balance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation. Not exactly "возмездие" (more vengeful) or "расплата" (more transactional). Closer to "заслуженная кара" or "по заслугам" with a narrative flavor.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a plural ('comeuppances' is very rare).
- Using it for any negative outcome, not specifically a *deserved* one.
- Misspelling as 'comeupance'.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the word 'comeuppance' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not for the person receiving it. However, from the perspective of justice or an observer, it is seen as a positive, satisfying, or rightful outcome.
No, it is generally considered informal or neutral, often with a narrative or colloquial flavor. It's uncommon in very formal legal or academic documents.
'Revenge' is a deliberate act inflicted by someone who was wronged. 'Comeuppance' is an impersonal, often ironic outcome or punishment that seems to happen naturally as a result of someone's own actions.
It comes from the phrase 'come up,' in the sense of 'to appear before a court' or 'to get what is coming to one,' with the suffix '-ance' forming a noun. It originated in 19th-century American English.
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