reaped what one sowed
Got just deserts
To have reaped what one sowed is to experience consequences that follow naturally from one's own actions—usually negative ones.
The metaphor comes from farming: you harvest whatever seeds you planted.
He cheated his partners for years and lost everything; he reaped what he sowed.
The phrase implies that outcomes, however harsh, were deserved.
- consequenceResult of an action
- resultWhat follows a cause
- cause and effectHow events produce results
- natural consequencesUnmanipulated results of actions
- justiceFair treatment under law
harvest · reap the whirlwind · karma · what goes around comes around · moral law · seedtime · sowing seeds · fairness · outcome · causality · reciprocity · repercussions · comeuppance · effect · chain reaction · accountability · domino effect · responsibility
reaped what one sowedbad luck
Unfavorable chance events
twist of fate · collateral damage · lucky break · act of God · caught in the crossfire
reaped what one sowedscapegoated
Made to bear others' fault
victimized · powerless · blameless · guiltless · sacrificial lamb
reaped what one sowedno good deed goes unpunished
Benevolence often brings misfortune
got away with it · nice guys finish last · scot-free · unpunished