Comeuppance

Question

Este hilo es un ejercicio para los hispanohablantes, es decir los nativos. Tenéis que buscar lo que quiere decir la palabra inglés "comeuppance" y formar una frase en Inglés que lo contenga.

... contenga. Un beso, Eddy :) - cogumela, Jan 18, 2012

wow really hard one for non-english speakers Eddy! whew! fairly obscure. - amykay, Jan 19, 2012

It's such a pity there are not more Spanish speakers learning English on this site. - Eddy, Jan 20, 2012

Answer 1

It looks quite informal, and it means just punishment, retribution.

At first sight I would say that it comes from "come up" , but come up as in what?? to arise? to appear? I can't figure out.

What is clear is that the suffix -ance turns it into a noun, as in assurance.

It's well known that when one of Heidi's husbands misbehaves he shall have got his comeuppance

Rolf, cogu, you don't need to study, not with the brainpower you have... - annierats, Jan 18, 2012

So... just how many husbands does Heidita have? - Jeremias, Jan 18, 2012

Answer 2

cogu said

At first sight I would say that it comes from "come up" , but come up as in what?? to arise? to appear? I can't figure out.

cogu you are correct in your interpretation of the word and it is a noun. The word has to be read as a whole as it is colloquial. But as you have stated it arises from "come+up+ance".