He failed his exam; it served him right because he had not studied.
Bob said it served Sally right when she cut her finger; she had taken his knife without asking him.
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс. 1997.
serve right — serve (someone) right if something bad that happens serves someone right, they deserve it. It would serve you right if your children never spoke to you again. And she didn t get the promotion she d hoped for, which served her right for being so… … New idioms dictionary
serve right — serve (someone) right used to say that someone who has behaved badly deserves a particular punishment, problem, etc. “I hear his wife is divorcing him.” “It serves him right after the way he s treated her.” “He won t even talk to me.” “(It)… … Useful english dictionary
serve right — serve (you) right you deserve the punishment that you received. After the way she treated him, it would serve her right if he left her. Usage notes: often said with an attitude of pleasure because someone you do not like is suffering … New idioms dictionary
right — See: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT FOR YOU, DEAD TO RIGHTS, GIVE ONE S RIGHT ARM, HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE, IN THE RIGHT, PLAY ONE S CARDS RIGHT, PUT TO RIGHTS or SET TO RIGHTS, SERVE RIGHT, TO RIGHTS … Dictionary of American idioms
right — See: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT FOR YOU, DEAD TO RIGHTS, GIVE ONE S RIGHT ARM, HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE, IN THE RIGHT, PLAY ONE S CARDS RIGHT, PUT TO RIGHTS or SET TO RIGHTS, SERVE RIGHT, TO RIGHTS … Dictionary of American idioms
right — See: all right, all right for you, dead to rights, give one s right arm, heart in the right place, in the right, play one s cards right, put to rights or set to rights, serve right, to rights … Словарь американских идиом
serve — See: first come, first served, serve right … Словарь американских идиом
serve someone right — (of something unpleasant) to be no more than deserved • • • Main Entry: ↑serve * * * be someone s deserved punishment or misfortune it would serve you right if Jeff walked out on you * * * serve someone right see ↑serve, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
Serve — Serve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Served}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Serving}.] [OE. serven, servien, OF. & F. servir, fr. L. servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to protect, preserve, observe; cf. Zend har to protect, haurva protecting. Cf.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
serve someone right — serve (someone) right if something bad that happens serves someone right, they deserve it. It would serve you right if your children never spoke to you again. And she didn t get the promotion she d hoped for, which served her right for being so… … New idioms dictionary
