for my sins
As a punishment for wrongdoing, often used in a jocular way. This usage dates back to about 1800.
Example: “For my sins, we’ve bought a vacation house in Spain.”
Synonyms
- As karma would have it
- To atone for my past deeds
- For my just desserts
- Sins returning to haunt me
Fun Note: Despite the somber sounding origins, “for my sins” is often used to humorously lament smaller inconveniences, like chaperoning a teenage party or nursing a friend’s enthusiasm for watching paint dry.
Related Expressions
- Paying the price: Facing the consequences.
- Reaping what you sow: Experiencing the results of one’s actions.
- Getting your comeuppance: Receiving punishment or retribution.
- No good deed goes unpunished: ironically denotes how acts of kindness often lead to consequences.
Antonyms
- For my virtues
- By heaven’s grace 🕊️
- Through sheer luck
Humorous Quotes
“Curses, I decided to volunteer at the pet adoption event, and now I have six cats—all for my sins!” - Anonymous Cat Lover
Proverbs to Ponder
- “You made your bed, now lie in it.” - We must live with the results of our own decisions.
- “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” - Even well-meaning actions can lead to negative outcomes.
References in Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Literature: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Dorian’s hedonistic pursuits ultimately catch up to him, surely a case of “for my sins.”
- Books: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaire children often find themselves in dire situations, likely lamenting, “for our sins.”
- Songs: “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones. Sometimes you’ve got to think, ‘Whatever did I do to deserve this?’
- Poetry: Consider W. H. Auden’s poem Stop All the Clocks, plunging us into the remorse and lament of consequences, perhaps muttered with a dry, “for my sins.”
- Movies: Office Space - Experiences of the main character may resonate with a lighter, humorous articulation of “for my sins”.
### Which of these idioms means the same as 'for my sins'?
- [x] Getting your just desserts
- [ ] Swimming with dolphins
- [ ] Shopping till you drop
- [ ] Dancing in the rain
> **Explanation:** "Getting your just desserts" means facing the consequences of your actions, much like "for my sins." The others might be fun, but are unrelated.
### True or False: 'For my sins' is always meant seriously.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "For my sins" is often used in a humorous or jocular manner to describe a minor or amusing inconvenience.
### Which of these contexts best fits 'for my sins'?
- [ ] Just received a promotion
- [ ] Won the lottery
- [x] Voluntarily agreed to babysit a dozen energetic toddlers
- [ ] Booked a dream vacation to Hawaii
> **Explanation:** Babysitting a dozen energetic toddlers is the perfect illustration of a scenario where one might humorously say, "for my sins."
### Which phrase is similar to 'for my sins'?
- [ ] Jumping for joy
- [x] Facing the music
- [ ] Dancing with delight
- [ ] Sighing with relief
> **Explanation:** "Facing the music" means to confront the consequences of one's actions, similar in spirit to "for my sins."
### Fill in the blank: "I'm managing this project, _______, by some cosmic joke."
- [x] for my sins
- [ ] dancing in delight
- [ ] under the weather
- [ ] easy as pie
> **Explanation:** "For my sins" perfectly fills the blank to convey a humorous lament of the situation.
And remember dear Reader, whether it’s enduring an odd job to atone for past glories, laugh at life’s quirks, for even these ‘punishments’ have their tales.
Until next nonsense,
H. U. M.oros
