INDEX:
1. to deserve something good
2. to deserve something bad
3. to deserve an explanation/answer/apology etc
4. to deserve attention
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ EARN
↑ PRAISE
↑ GIVE
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1. to deserve something good
▷ deserve/be owed /dɪˈzɜːʳv, bi ˈəʊd/ [transitive verb/verb phrase]
if you deserve something, it is right that you should have it, because you have worked hard, done something well etc :
▪ Well done. I think we all deserve a drink after that.
▪ Jill was awarded first prize, and she thoroughly deserved it.
▪ After all that hard work, you deserve a rest.
deserve to do something
▪ The team have trained hard and they deserve to do well.
▪ Chang played better than Sampras, and he deserved to win.
deserve a medal
used humorously about someone who has worked very hard or done something very difficult
▪ Anyone who can work with that man deserves a medal.
▷ well-deserved/well-earned /ˌwel dɪˈzɜːʳvd◂, ˌwel ˈɜːʳnd◂/ [adjective]
a well-deserved or well-earned rest, win, drink etc is one that you deserve to have, because you have worked hard :
▪ The game ended in a well-deserved victory for the German team.
▪ At 9 o'clock, she settled down for a well-earned rest.
▷ have earned /həv ˈɜːʳnd/ [verb phrase]
to deserve something such as reward, success, or someone’s respect etc because you have worked very hard or done something impressive :
▪ I think Paul should get first prize - he’s certainly earned it.
▪ Let’s have a break now - we’ve definitely earned it.
2. to deserve something bad
▷ deserve /dɪˈzɜːʳv/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if you think that someone deserves something bad that happens to them, you think it is fair that it happens because they have done something wrong or stupid :
deserve to do something
▪ Anyone who drives like that deserves to lose their licence.
deserve it
deserve the bad things that happen
▪ ‘You really weren’t very nice to her.’ ‘Well, she deserved it!’
get what you deserve
when something bad happens to you and you deserve it
▪ He was a bully, and in the end he got what he deserved.
▷ serve somebody right /ˌsɜːʳv somebody ˈraɪt/ [verb phrase not in progressive] spoken
use this to say you think someone deserves something bad that happens to them because they have been unkind or done something stupid :
serve sb right for
▪ ‘I feel terrible.’ ‘Serves you right for drinking so much last night.’
it serves somebody right
▪ It’d serve him right if Jo walked out on him.
▷ get what you deserve /ˌget wɒt juː dɪˈzɜːʳv/ [verb phrase] especially spoken
use this when you think someone deserves a punishment or bad experience, because it is a result of their own actions :
▪ ‘Do you feel sorry for him?’ ‘No, he shouldn’t have hit that guy -- he got what he deserved.’
▷ be asking for it /biː ˈɑːskɪŋ fər ɪtǁ-ˈæsk-/ [verb phrase] spoken
say this when something bad happens to someone and you think they deserve it because their behaviour made it very likely to happen :
▪ Anyone who invites a complete stranger into their house is asking for it.
▷ had it coming /ˌhæd ɪt ˈkʌmɪŋ/ [verb phrase] spoken
use this to say you think someone deserves something bad that happens to them, and this is what you expected to happen :
▪ I don’t feel sorry for her at all. She had it coming.
had it coming to you/her etc
▪ ‘Terry’s very upset about his wife leaving him.’ ‘Well he’s had it coming to him for years.’
▷ get your comeuppance /ˌget jɔːʳ kʌmˈʌpəns/ [verb phrase]
to finally get the punishment or something bad that you deserve because of the way you have behaved :
▪ The evil Mr Grove gets his comeuppance at the end of the story.
▪ She’s callous and snobbish and it’s time she got her comeuppance.
▷ get your just deserts /get jɔːʳ ˌdʒʌst dɪˈzɜːʳts/ [verb phrase]
to finally get the punishment you deserve, especially after having avoided it for a long time :
▪ Tobin finally got his just deserts, and was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment.
▪ This is a movie in which everyone gets their just deserts in the end.
3. to deserve an explanation/answer/apology etc
▷ deserve /dɪˈzɜːʳv/ [transitive verb] also be owed [verb phrase]
deserve/be owed an explanation/apology/answer
use this to say that someone should have an explanation etc, especially from someone who does not want to explain or apologize :
▪ She feels she deserves an apology after all the cruel things you said about her.
▪ Why didn’t you turn up for the meeting? I think I’m at least owed some kind of explanation.
▪ Why did ministers fail to inform the public of these dangers? The people of Britain deserve answers.
4. to deserve attention
▷ deserve/merit /dɪˈzɜːʳv, ˈmerə̇t/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if a suggestion, idea, or plan deserves or merits consideration, attention etc, it is good enough to be considered or examined in more detail :
▪ Neal’s book explores some interesting ideas which deserve attention.
▪ This is a complex problem, that deserves closer consideration.
▪ It’s an interesting idea and it certainly merits another look.