got your due
Meaning(s)
1. was punished, was brought to justice
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
he finally got his due when he was caught/punished/beaten up
Analysis
To be 'due' something is to be owed it. If you say someone 'got their due' it means that they got what was owed to them or what was coming to them. Usually, this phrase is used in situations where people experience negative results of actions they have taken in the past. Similar in meaning to 'get what was coming to you' or 'karma'. "After years of exploiting staff, the business owner got what was coming to them when an employment bureau investigated the firm, charging him with dozens of offences." This is an idiomatic expression used in both social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Advance)
- After years of evading the police, the criminal was caught and finally got his due.
- He had been a bully for years, so when he was beaten up, many people thought he finally got his due.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- The competition will get their due when we file a copyright complaint.
- Anyone found out to have assisted in the mishandling of funds will get their due and be thoroughly investigated and reprimanded.
2. was recognized for, was rewarded for
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
he finally got his due with promotion/reward/award/prize
Analysis
To be 'due' something is to be owed it. If you say someone 'got their due' it means that they got what was owed to them or what was coming to them. In a positive respect, this can mean that someone has earned a reward or has benefitted from their hard work or actions in the past. "She finally got her due for all the long nights studying when she received a scholarship to a prestigious University." You will hear this expression used both in social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The competition was difficult, but Mary finally got her due when she won.
- I studied so hard for years so when I finally got a place in a top university I felt like I got what I was due.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Tom was delighted with his promotion. After years of hard work, he had finally got his due.
- We finally got our due after years of negotiations and signed a huge contract with a global company.