Are You Getting the Just Deserts You Deserve?
Sometimes we think bad people should get what they deserve, but we shouldn’t liken that punishment to eating day-old pastries.
Yes, lots of people use the phrase “getting his just deserts,” but they are thinking of desserts—sweet treats.
The word desert pronounced with the accent on the second syllable (de-ZERT), brings to mind the verb that means to leave, abandon, or withdraw. But as a noun, that word means “that which one deserves.” Desert, in that sense, is now archaic and rarely used outside this phrase.
In a convoluted way, writing “he got his just desserts” (as in sweets) makes some sense. I picture doling out some awful-tasting moldy cake to a person I feel deserves such a dessert.
But we writers want to be accurate in our handling of language, and so “deserts” is the correct spelling.
Keep in mind that just deserts can mean either reward or punishment (you are getting what you deserve, and maybe you deserve something nice)—whereas comeuppance always implies a negative outcome rightly deserved.
Comeuppance has its origin with “coming up before a judge” for punishment.
I’d be happy for some positive “just deserts”—make mine chocolate cake. Just the desert (or should I say dessert?) I deserve.
A good point to keep in mind. I didn’t realize “his deserts” came from a word meaning “abandonded”… but of course it fits with “being deserted” and even with leaving “a desert” behind.
And yet a set of words like that is just one S away from the candy store. English: love it or hate it, there’s always more to love.
Someone once told me that the way to remember how to spell desserts was to think of “sticky sugar” to remind you to add to s’s.
That’s fascinating! I always assumed it was desserts.
More evidence that words really do mean things and that it’s all too easy to get meanings mixed up!
I’ve heard both phrases (just desserts and comeuppance) but never gave much thought to their origin or whether or not I was using them properly.
A fun and enlightening post.
Oh, and the chocolate cake? Excellent choice!