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serve someone right

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌsɝv sʌmwʌn ˈraɪt/ · UK /ˌsɜːv sʌmwʌn ˈraɪt/

serve someone right means: If something unpleasant happens to you because of your bad behavior, you deserve it.

verb

DESERVED TROUBLEB2

If something unpleasant happens to you because of your bad behavior, you deserve it.

  • It serves you right for lying.
  • Losing the prize served him right after all his cheating.
  • She ignored every warning, so it would serve her right if she got caught.

How to use it: serve someone right for doing something (It serves him right for cheating.)

Similar words: be deserved

Common phrases: serve someone right, serve someone right for

WORK CORRECTLYC1

To help someone correctly, especially when their memory gives them accurate information.

  • If my memory serves me right, her name is Anna.
  • My memory served me right about the address.
  • If his memory serves him right, the shop closes at six.

How to use it: if my memory serves me right (If my memory serves me right, we met in May.)

Similar words: serve someone correctly

Common phrases: serve someone right, memory serve someone right

Questions about serve someone right

What does serve someone right mean?

If something unpleasant happens to you because of your bad behavior, you deserve it.

What is serve someone right in other languages?

Türkçe: müstahak olmak · Español: tener merecido · Français: être mérité · Deutsch: recht geschehen · Italiano: stare bene a · 日本語: 当然の報いである

How do you pronounce serve someone right?

In American English /ˌsɝv sʌmwʌn ˈraɪt/; in British English /ˌsɜːv sʌmwʌn ˈraɪt/.

How do you use serve someone right in a sentence?

It serves you right for lying. Losing the prize served him right after all his cheating.

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serve someone right in other languages

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