- Meaning
- This idiom cynically suggests that acts of kindness, help, or good deeds often lead to negative consequences or ingratitude, as if doing good invites punishment rather than reward. It conveys a sense of ironic misfortune or disillusionment with altruism, often used in personal, social, or workplace contexts to express frustration when good intentions backfire. The phrase carries a tone of sarcasm, resignation, or wry humor, reflecting cultural awareness of life’s unfairness and the human experience of unrewarded efforts. It resonates in situations where generosity is met with trouble, capturing the sting of unexpected backlash, and its paradoxical structure adds a layer of sharp wit, evoking the absurdity of punished virtue. The idiom often serves as a cautionary or commiserative remark, making it a poignant metaphor for the risks of doing good in an unpredictable world.
- Origin
- The phrase is a 20th-century twist on older proverbs about ingratitude, likely inspired by the 18th-century saying ‘No good deed goes unpunished,’ attributed to playwright John Gay’s *Fables* (1727), which explore moral ironies. Its modern form emerged in the 1940s, with an early appearance in a 1942 *The New Yorker* article, lamenting a favor gone wrong: ‘No good turn goes unpunished.’ The idiom gained traction in mid-20th-century America, reflecting post-war cynicism, as seen in J.D. Salinger’s *The Catcher in the Rye* (1951), which captures disillusionment. Its use was amplified by media, notably in *The New York Times* columns on workplace dynamics, and its spread to British and Commonwealth English came through American cultural influence, particularly post-1960s. The phrase’s adoption was fueled by its witty paradox and applicability to ingratitude, ensuring its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from office gripes to literary satire. Its sardonic tone resonated with modern skepticism about altruism.
- Variants
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- No Good Turn Goes Unpunished
- No good deed goes unpunished
- Good deeds don’t go unpunished
- No good act goes unpunished
- Examples
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- I helped him, but no good turn goes unpunished—he blamed me later.
- No good deed goes unpunished; my favor got me stuck with extra work.
- Good deeds don’t go unpunished—she regretted covering his shift.
- No good act goes unpunished, as her kindness led to gossip.
- No good turn goes unpunished; lending money cost me a friend.
- No good deed goes unpunished—he got in trouble for volunteering.
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