receive retribution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "receive retribution" is correct and can be used in written English.
It typically refers to someone being punished or suffering the consequences for something they did. For example: "The criminal received retribution for their actions when they were sent to prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He was sexy, intelligent and eager to receive retribution for murdering two men.

The New York Times

Any foreign soldiers of elder-mother-frailty that seek to invade our borders shall receive retribution in the form of repeated "pokes" on the webbed I.B.M. platform "The Facebooks Space" that has eaten the global populace's brain matter.

The New York Times

'The Voices' will be released later this year The Brigands of Rattleborg, script by S Craig Zahler (Black-listed 2006) This dark, violent western about a group of bandits who rob a small town during a thunderstorm, but receive retribution from the local doctor and sheriff, has been touted as a potential future project for the Korean director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy).

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Upon receiving retribution from both his wife and Pam (and proof that Greg did indeed ace the MCAT's), Jack realizes that Pam truly loves Greg.

Wikipedia

"The wicked and evil will soon be eliminated, the vile ones in the human world will receive due retribution, and sins will no longer be allowed to continue," he wrote recently on the group's official Web site (www.minghui.org/eng.html).html

The New York Times

He implored his readers to pray with him: In the Name of Jesus, I prophesy and declare: May all the individuals serving in the state legislature, and their staff, who support, promote and practice sodomy and other perverted, sexually deviant lifestyles, who support the killing of unborn babies, and who hate God's Law and God's Word, receive just retribution from God for their evil actions. . . .

The New Yorker

As we learned from the recent acquittal of Michael Dunn, killing black people will never receive justice or retribution.

Huffington Post

Victims and their advocates say that such a process serves as a disincentive for reporting sexual assault because victims fear and often experience retribution from their peers and superiors and are not given the due process civilians receive.

The New York Times

If someone gets in their way, especially someone employed by them, that person is perceived as thwarting God's will and fully deserving of the retribution they receive from the narcissistic leader.

Huffington Post

In addition, and more shockingly, we have received threats of retribution from a member of Senator John Kerry's campaign and have seen attempts by leading members of Congress to influence the Federal Communications Commission to stop Sinclair from broadcasting this news special".

The New York Times

Main caregiver has been defined as the person belonging to the patient's informal support system who takes the care and is responsible for the patient, and who commits most of his or her time to that task without receiving any economic retribution [ 2].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "receive retribution", ensure the context clearly establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between the action and the consequence. The phrase suggests a proportional and deserved negative outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "receive retribution" when the consequence is merely an inconvenience or minor setback. Retribution implies a significant and deserved punishment or negative repercussion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "receive retribution" functions as a verbal phrase, where "receive" acts as the verb and "retribution" is the noun, indicating the action of experiencing punishment or deserved consequences. Ludwig confirms its validity in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "receive retribution" signifies experiencing deserved punishment or negative consequences for one's actions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and appropriateness in written English. While grammatically sound, its usage is somewhat uncommon, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. Alternative phrases like "face punishment" or "suffer the consequences" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to reserve "receive retribution" for situations involving significant and deserved repercussions, avoiding its application to minor inconveniences. When you do use it, ensure the link between action and consequence is clear to create a proportional negative outcome. When writing, avoid using "receive retribution" when the consequence is a simple mistake, and rather use this for instances when there is a considerable effect or punishment for the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

face punishment

Focuses more directly on the legal or disciplinary consequences.

suffer the consequences

A broader term that encompasses any negative outcome, not necessarily punitive.

bear the brunt

Implies enduring the most severe part of something unpleasant.

pay the price

Highlights the cost or sacrifice involved.

be held accountable

Emphasizes responsibility and being called to answer for one's actions.

get what's coming to them

An informal expression suggesting deserved negative consequences.

meet one's just deserts

A more formal and literary way of saying someone gets what they deserve, often negative.

reap the whirlwind

Suggests a large and destructive consequence resulting from one's actions.

endure the penalty

Similar to "face punishment" but can refer to non-legal penalties as well.

draw the short straw

An idiomatic way of saying someone has received an undesirable outcome, often by chance or unfairness.

FAQs

How can I use "receive retribution" in a sentence?

The phrase "receive retribution" is used to indicate that someone is punished or suffers consequences for their actions. For instance: "The corrupt official /s/faced+punishment for their crimes".

What are some alternatives to saying "receive retribution"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "suffer the consequences", "face punishment", or "be held accountable".

What does "receive retribution" imply about the consequences?

It implies that the consequences are a deserved punishment or negative repercussion for a specific action, suggesting a sense of justice or balance being restored.

Is "receive retribution" a formal or informal expression?

The phrase "receive retribution" leans towards a more formal register, suitable for news, academic, or legal contexts, rather than casual conversation.