poetic justice

poetic justice

A punishment or unfavorable outcome that is particularly appropriate or ironic. The CEO of the cigarette manufacturer, who has long denied the health risks associated with smoking, just died of lung cancer—now isn't that poetic justice?
See also: justice, poetic
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

poetic justice

appropriate, ideal, or ironic punishment. It was poetic justice that Jane won the race after Mary tried to get her banned from the race. The car thieves tried to steal a car with no gas. That's poetic justice.
See also: justice, poetic
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

poetic justice

An outcome in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner. For example, It was poetic justice for the known thief to go to jail for the one crime he didn't commit . [Early 1700s]
See also: justice, poetic
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

poetic justice

Poetic justice is when bad things happen to someone who deserves it. Perhaps his illness was some kind of poetic justice for having deceived so many for so long. Note: Occasionally people use poetic justice to describe something good that happens to someone who deserves it. If one can resolve several problems at once — ours as well as yours — it has a certain poetic justice.
See also: justice, poetic
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

poetic justice

the fact of experiencing a fitting or deserved retribution for your actions.
This phrase is from Alexander Pope's satire The Dunciad: ‘Poetic Justice, with her lifted scale’.
See also: justice, poetic
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

poetic ˈjustice

a punishment or reward that is deserved: If you ask me it’s poetic justice. He tried to get you fired, and now he’s lost his job himself.
See also: justice, poetic
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be half the battle (won)
  • crush it
  • catch a tiger by the tail
  • the blame for (something)
  • be in the right spot at the right time
  • cook the books
  • cook the accounts
  • chain of command
  • a/the fish rots from the head down
  • a/the fish stinks from the head down
References in periodicals archive
"My dad used to say, 'What goes around, comes around', so I think that was poetic justice, the penalty miss.
NEIL GETS IT SPOT ON; CARDIFF 0 NEWCASTLE 0; Keeper Etheridge saves to give Warnock his first point
He said: "It would have been devastating to lose at that stage, but quite poetic justice I thought.
PENALTY MISS WAS 'POETIC JUSTICE'
Worcester, MA, April 13, 2016 --(PR.com)-- A Vietnam War veteran's writing has earned recognition from Dog Ear Publishing, which presented its Award of Literary Excellence to his second novel, "Poetic Justice." The book is just the second this year to earn the company's literary award.
Chris Stone's Latest Release Earns Kudos, Award from Publishing Company
Groups are urged to bid for the pot of money seized from criminals in a move described as "poetic justice" by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick.
'Poetic justice' as groups get chance of cash from crime
It is a double dose of poetic justice that for all its power and pounds sterling BP was too dumb to realize that Louisiana's Napoleonic-rooted civil code is notoriously crooked.
BP can't stop spills of oil or money
It is an intriguing story, filled with violence and, in some cases, redemption; in other cases, poetic justice. But in any event, the flood of drugs began and continues to this day.
Rain Dogs
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Singleton had previously worked with the 'California Love' hit maker in 1993's 'Poetic Justice'.
Tupac Shakur biopic to be helmed by John Singleton
What's more, on Wednesday he also took down Virender Sehwag's record of India's fastest ODI century, smacking a round 100 not out in 52 balls, and it was only poetic justice that Kohli -- the Mr Dependable in Indian cricket -- was present at the other end as Rohit Sharma hit the winning runs.
KOHLI WINS IT YET AGAIN FOR INDIA
The rapper is up for six awards, including album of the year for "good kid, m.A.A.d city'' and song and video of the year for "Poetic Justice.'' R&B singers Justin Timberlake, Miguel, Robin Thicke, Chris Brown and Tamar Braxton follow with five nominations each.
Kendrick Lamar leads Soul Train nods
EeIn a development that could be described as poetic justice, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, who has continuously said his country's electricity supply has improved, had his Easter message interrupted by power outage during a church service in Lagos on Sunday.
Power cut interrupts Nigerian President's Easter message
One, from North Cheam in London, described what happened to the youth, who was wearing a gas mask, as "poetic justice".
THE TRUTH IS DAWNING
Locog chairman Lord Coe said it was "poetic justice" that the man happened to be sitting next to the Dutch judo star.
Accused denies bottle offence at 100m final
Ian, Cumbria Bad karma at Newbury Poetic justice for Newbury for the times genuine Flat racegoers have been faced with increased admission for live bands there.
CHATROOM The best of your emails
Marc Jacobs will not do poetic justice to disgraced anti-Semite John Galliano and take over his post at Dior.
Sundown: Obama's Big Spenders Still Back Him
McCarthy said: "No, I wasn't looking for poetic justice, it wouldn't be bothering me where we were playing and who we beat, it was just a matter of getting the points."
SUNDERLAND 1 Sessegnon (34) WOLVES [...]