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Glite Dictionary
to get what you asked for

to get what you asked for

2 5.3
End up with what you wanted, often in a way you do not like
  • idiom
translation icon : recibir lo que pediste
  • I got what you asked for, OK?
  • going to get what you asked for

And if you don't get what you asked for, if you don't get what you vote for, your democracy no longer exists.

Examples

  • You get what you ask for.

    Blog text (18)

  • You know, I never got what I asked for.

    Fatman (2020)

  • Did you get what I asked for?

    Malevolence (2004)

  • I got what I asked for.

    Sisters (2015)

  • You get what you asked for.

    Blog text (14)

  • Well, you got what you asked for, Jane.

    Someone Like You... (2001)

  • Larry got what he asked for.

    The Public Enemy (1931)

  • Still they got what they asked for, didn't they?

    The Balcony (1963)

  • After complaining about her workload, she finally got what she asked for: a heavier project assignment.

  • He was surprised to get what he asked for when the manager approved his vacation request without hesitation.

Synonyms

to obtain
vsto get what you asked for
619 2.6

To get something by asking or working for it

is about receiving consequences of requests, often unexpected or undesirable
to reap what you sow
vsto get what you asked for
  • Informal
8 6.0

To get the results of your actions, good or bad

focuses on consequences from requests, often unexpected and unwanted
to get one's way
vsto get what you asked for
  • Informal
4.3

Have what you want even when others try to stop you

involves receiving consequences of demands rather than achieving goals

Antonyms

to get away with it
234 3.4

Escape blame or punishment for doing something wrong

escape
77 1.1

An act of avoiding harm or a dangerous situation

How Favorable

to have it your way
  • Informal
16 4.2
to get what you asked for
2 5.3

Surface Forms

get what you asked for infinitive
got what you asked for past
gotten what you asked for past participle
getting what you asked for present participle
gets what you asked for third person singular

Morphology

get + what + you + ask + for

The meaning is directly compositional: 'get' (to receive) combined with 'what you asked for' (the thing you requested) yields 'receive the thing one requested.' Any additional negative or consequential nuance is context-driven rather than idiomatic, so a B1 learner who knows the parts can infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase get what you asked for paints a clear picture: imagine you ask for something and then you get it exactly, like a genie granting a wish or a waiter bringing your order. So it means 'to receive the result of your request', sometimes in an unwanted or unexpected way.