serve someone right

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serve someone right (third-person singular simple present serves someone right, present participle serving someone right, simple past and past participle served someone right)

1. (idiomatic, Of an unpleasant event) To happen to someone who is thought to deserve it.
   • 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom's Cabin (Chapter XVIII)

     "And they counts my money and tickets, when I gets home, to see if I's got the change; and if I han't they half kills me."

     "And serves you right," said Jane, the pert chambermaid, "if you will take their money to get drunk on."

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see serve,‎ right.

   If my memory serves me right, we had a similar discussion a few months ago.

• have it coming
• just deserts