Karma will get you

[0907] You'll get yours

🎲 Hoist with his own petard
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • A statement predicting or threatening that someone will eventually receive deserved punishment, negative consequences, or retribution for their actions.
  • It implies that justice or payback is inevitable.

Origin

  • A straightforward expression where yours refers to your deserved outcome or your share of punishment/consequences.
  • Its simplicity and directness make its exact origin hard to pinpoint, likely evolving naturally in spoken English.
  • It carries a sense of certainty and, often, a personal threat or promise of future reckoning.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Karma will get you. (Attributes it to cosmic justice)
  • What goes around comes around. (More philosophical)
  • You'll pay for this. (Implies cost or retribution)
  • You'll rue the day. (Archaic/dramatic, meaning you'll regret it)
  • Your time will come.
  • You've got it coming. (You deserve what's going to happen)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • It's coming back to bite you.
  • Just wait. (Implied threat)
  • Watch your back. (Direct threat)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • You're gonna get fucked. (Crude threat of severe negative consequences)
  • I'll get your ass. (Direct threat of personal revenge)

Milder:

  • Actions have consequences.
  • Things will catch up with you.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal. Can range from a general prediction to a direct threat.
  • Use with extreme caution, as it can easily be interpreted as menacing or aggressive.
  • Definitely inappropriate in professional settings or polite conversation.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The primary misunderstanding would be failing to recognize the potentially serious, threatening nature of the phrase depending on context and tone. It's not just a neutral prediction.

Examples

  • (After being cheated) Don't worry, you'll get yours. (Threat/prediction)
  • (Watching a villain in a movie) He thinks he's won, but he'll get his. (Prediction)
  • She may be laughing now, but she'll get hers for betraying us. (Prediction of consequences)

Dialogue

Jake: (Shoving past Maya) Get out of my way!

Maya: Hey! You just made me drop my books!

Jake: (Sneering) Tough luck.

Maya: (Muttering as he walks away) Don't worry, pal. You'll get yours.

Social Media Examples

  • Angry comment on a post: You scammed people! You'll get yours!
  • Vague tweet after a betrayal: Some people think they can get away with anything. You'll get yours.
  • Gaming chat after being unfairly killed: gg... but you'll get yours next round 😉 (Can be playful or serious depending on context)

Response Patterns

  • Defiance/Dismissal: Is that a threat? / Yeah, right. / Bring it on.
  • Fear/Concern: What do you mean by that? / Are you threatening me?
  • Ignoring the comment.
  • Attempting to justify actions: I didn't do anything wrong!

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • The person being addressed might demand clarification (What's that supposed to mean?).
  • If perceived as a direct threat, it could lead to escalation (argument, reporting the threat).
  • The speaker might simply stare menacingly or walk away, letting the statement hang in the air.

Conversation Starter

  • No. It's a response, prediction, or threat related to someone's negative actions.

Intonation

  • Often delivered with a low, menacing, or coldly certain tone.
  • Stress typically falls on get and yours (or his/hers). Falling intonation.
  • Example: You'll GET YOURS.

Generation Differences

  • Understood by all generations. Its directness gives it a timeless quality in informal contexts.

Regional Variations

  • Common in most English-speaking regions.
Karma will get you
🎲 Hoist with his own petard