deserve

a civil question deserves a civil answer

proverb If someone asks a reasonable question, then it warrants an answer. Often used as a reprimand. Why won't you answer me, Alice? A civil question deserves a civil answer! All Jim did was ask about your day. Come on, a civil question deserves a civil answer. A: "Hey, I wasn't trying to troll you, I asked because I'm genuinely curious." B: "Well, in that case, I guess a civil question deserves a civil answer."

deserve a medal

To warrant recognition for persevering through a challenging or tedious situation. This phrase is usually used humorously. Our realtor deserves a medal for putting up with all of our questions today. Has my mother been complaining like that all day? Wow, you deserve a medal for being so patient with her. I think I deserve a medal for taking three toddlers to the park by myself.
See also: deserve, medal

deserve better from (someone or something)

To warrant better treatment from someone or something than one is currently receiving. I'm sorry, but you deserve better from your husband—he shouldn't speak to you so rudely. With how hard you work every day, you deserve better from your employer. You deserve better from your bank than a measly $.17 cents in interest. My savings account earned me $18 in interest this month!
See also: better, deserve

deserve credit for (someone or something)

To warrant recognition for something that one has done. Howie is the one who deserves credit for how successful our presentation was—he stayed late every day this week to work on it. Of course you deserve credit for your hard work, but that doesn't always happen, unfortunately. The boss watched me do the vast majority of work on that project, so she knows I deserve credit for it!
See also: credit, deserve, for

Every Good Boy Deserves Favor

A mnemonic used in music to remember the notes on the lines of the treble clef (E, G, B, D, and F), in order from lowest to highest. If you're having trouble remembering the notes during the quiz, just remember that Every Good Boy Deserves Favor! A: "It's one thing to remember the phrase 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favor.' It's quite another to remember what it stands for!" B: "Well, yes, that would be a problem." A: "Which note is lower than G?" B: "Remember 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favor'?" A: "Oh, right. So, E?"
See also: boy, Deserve, every, favor, good

Every Good Boy Deserves Food

A mnemonic used in music to remember the notes on the lines of the treble clef (E, G, B, D, and F), in order from lowest to highest. If you're having trouble remembering the notes during the quiz, just remember that Every Good Boy Deserves Food! A: "It's one thing to remember the phrase 'Every Good Boy Deserves Food.' It's quite another to remember what it stands for!" B: "Well, yes, that would be a problem." A: "Which note is lower than G?" B: "Remember 'Every Good Boy Deserves Food'?" A: "Oh, right. So, E?"
See also: boy, Deserve, every, food, good

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

A mnemonic used in music to remember the notes on the lines of the treble clef (E, G, B, D, and F), in order from lowest to highest. If you're having trouble remembering the notes during the quiz, just remember that Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge! A: "It's one thing to remember the phrase 'Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.' It's quite another to remember what it stands for!" B: "Well, yes, that would be a problem." A: "Which note is lower than G?" B: "Remember 'Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge'?" A: "Oh, right. So, E?"
See also: boy, Deserve, every, fudge, good

first deserve and then desire

proverb You must prove yourself worthy of success by working hard and conscientiously, as desire alone will not make it happen. A: "I want to be the most famous artist in the whole world!" B: "Well, you'll need to spend years honing your craft and establishing your reputation in the art world. First deserve and then desire, you know." If you don't show the universe that you deserve the thing you want, why would you receive it? Remember: first deserve and then desire. You can't just want to be a baseball player, you have to work really hard at it. First deserve and then desire, as they say.
See also: and, deserve, desire, first

get what (one) deserves

To be deserving of the bad things that happen to one, usually because of one's past misdeeds. Don't worry, that bully will get what she deserves—just give it time. Those stool pigeons will get what they deserve, boss—we'll make sure of that. I hope Tom gets what he deserves after trampling Stacy's feelings like that. What a jerk!
See also: deserve, get, what

none but the brave deserve the fair

proverb Only those who are courageous and unafraid of failure will find success. It's risky, sure, but the money we stand to make from the move is too good to pass up. Come on, none but the brave deserve the fair!
See also: brave, but, deserve, fair, none

one good turn deserves another

proverb A favor or good deed should be repaid in kind. You were a lifesaver for us when we needed a babysitter last week, so I'm happy to help now—one good turn deserves another, after all.
See also: another, deserve, good, one, turn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

deserve better from someone or something

to merit better treatment from someone. We deserve better from someone who is supposed to be our friend. I deserve better from Bill.
See also: better, deserve

deserve credit for something

[for someone] to be owed recognition for doing something. He certainly deserves credit for the work he did on the project.
See also: credit, deserve, for

None but the brave deserve the fair.

Prov. Only a courageous and gallant man deserves a beautiful woman.; Only the best deserves the best. Stop making excuses and just call Gina. None but the brave deserve the fair.
See also: brave, but, deserve, fair, none

One good turn deserves another.

Prov. If someone does you a favor, you should do a favor for that person in return. Jill: Thanks for the ride. Jane: It's the least I can do after you helped me wash the car last week. One good turn deserves another. Child: I don't want to help Grandma go shopping. Father: But she helped you with your homework yesterday. And one good turn deserves another.
See also: another, deserve, good, one, turn
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

one good turn deserves another

A favor should be returned in kind, as in I'll give you a ride next time-one good turn deserves another. This maxim was first recorded about 1400, and the converse, One bad turn deserves another, about 1500.
See also: another, deserve, good, one, turn
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

one good turn deserves another

if someone does you a favour, you should take the chance to repay it.
See also: another, deserve, good, one, turn
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌget what you deˈserve

,

deˌserve all/everything you ˈget

(informal) used to say that you think somebody has earned the bad things that happen to them: I’m not sorry he’s in prison. In my opinion, he got what he deserved.
See also: deserve, get, what

he, she, etc. deˌserves a ˈmedal

(spoken) used to say that you admire somebody because they have done something difficult or unpleasant: You deserve a medal for what you’ve done for him over the years.
See also: deserve, medal

ˌone good ˌturn deserves aˈnother

(saying) if somebody helps you with something, you should help them in return
See also: another, deserve, good, one, turn
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

one good turn deserves another

I owe you for the favor you did me previously. This adage, usually said by a person returning a favor, dates as far back as ca. 1400, appearing in a Latin manuscript of that period, and by the mid-sixteenth century it was part of John Heywood’s proverb collection.
See also: another, deserve, good, one, turn
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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