Strange terms for retribution
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (385877)
Rockingham, Australia
May 29, 2026 3:16am CST
Somewhere sometime I wrote about a person being punished for some misdemeanour or other. I was thinking that he’d got his come-uppance which is a very strange term when you think about it.
My thoughts carried on to think that he got his ‘just desserts’. Now where the heck did that come from? And what a strange term. On a similar vein is ‘He got what he deserves’ but that is pretty much self-explanatory.
Maybe I’ll go down the rabbit hole but in the meantime does anyone have any idea about how these terms came about?
Speaking of just desserts, doesn’t this one look great?
17 people like this
16 responses
@LadyDuck (506875)
• Italy
29 May
Well I know that "dessert" comes from the French word "desservir," which means "to clear the table." as it is reserved to the final course. I think he got what he deserved that is not exactly the same.
That one in the photo looks like a Peach Melba to me, it was popular when I was young.
That one in the photo looks like a Peach Melba to me, it was popular when I was young.3 people like this
@LindaOHio (223950)
• United States
29 May
Without looking it up, I have no idea.
I love ice cream.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (385877)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 May
You're right about the one 's' but with one 's' I'd be wanting to pronounce it like it was the Sahara desert which wouldn't seem right.
Ice-cream sounds good.
@GardenGerty (170383)
• United States
30 May
I am sure when you find out you will share. I had not thought about this or where they came from.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (385877)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 May
Several have explained 'just deserts'. I must look up the other one. It's supposed to only have one 's'.
@snowy22315 (211780)
• United States
30 May
Just desserts is weird. It sounds like a reward..so why is it retribution?
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@RasmaSandra (99742)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 May
That dessert makes me hungry. I don't know but I got this from the net
The phrase "he got his just deserts" originates from the early 1500s. It refers to receiving what one rightfully deserves, whether it be reward or punishment. The term "deserts" in this context is derived from the Old French word "deserte," meaning what one deserves, and it became prominent in Early Modern English between the 15th and 17th centuries
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (15116)
• Ireland
29 May
@JudyEv On my first day in secondary school in Belfast a very cross headmaster told the assembled 1100 boys that certain behaviour (I can’t remember which) would result in the ultimate sanction being applied. He meant expulsion which was no real deterrent to most of those assembled, but fresh off the plane from Malawi I thought he meant hanging, which was a bit rough it seemed.
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Well, not so little if you were in secondary school.
@Marilynda1225 (91874)
• United States
29 May
Heck yes I would love that dessert!!
I am very familiar with those terms but have no idea how they originated.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (385877)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 May
It should have one 's' but then I'd want to pronounce it differently.
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18613)
• Torrington, Connecticut
29 May
That dessert looks phenomenal
1 person likes this
