To the victors belong the spoils

to the victor belong the spoils

The winner is entitled to all of the rewards, bonuses, or benefits of success. (A variation of "to the victor go the spoils.") John won the betting pool, so he gets the whole pot of money from those who paid in. To the victor belong the spoils! A lot of other contestants on the singing competition are well worthy of signing a record deal, but to the victor belong the spoils.
See also: belong, spoil, victor

To the victors belong the spoils.

Prov. The winners achieve power over people and property. The mayor took office and immediately fired many workers and hired new ones. Everyone said, "To the victors belong the spoils."
See also: belong, spoil, victor
References in periodicals archive ?
What we call the undemocratic practices of American diplomacy prior to the Rogers Act were perfectly consonant with the Jacksonian practice of "to the victors belong the spoils"--then considered real American democracy.
Foreign service masochism
"To the victors belong the spoils" was an expression originated by Sen.
1832: Sports; social issues and crime; folkways; fashion; holidays
"To the victors belong the spoils." or "History is written by the victors." These are some of the truism in our lives.
Imelda Marcos: Object of scorn but but also of envy
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