Aftermath: English Vocabulary List

used to emphasize that engaging in illegal or unethical behavior may provide temporary benefits or rewards, but the negative consequences will always outweigh the gains

"He stole from the shop and got caught — crime does not pay."

"The elaborate fraud scheme unravelled within months, serving as a stark reminder that crime does not pay."

used to suggest that the negative energy or harm one puts out into the world can return to them in some form

"Bad actions return to harm the person who did them — curses, like chickens, come home to roost."

"Every shortcut he had taken came back to cause problems — curses, like chickens, come home to roost."

used as a cautionary reminder that indulging in temporary pleasures or carefree behaviors may lead to future consequences or regret

"Joy now will be followed by sorrow — he that sings on Friday shall weep on Sunday."

"The team celebrated too early and paid for it later — he that sings on Friday shall weep on Sunday."

used to imply that bad actions or behavior will eventually have negative consequences for the person who performs them

"What you do to others will be done to you — karma is a bitch."

"He treated people badly for years and found himself alone — karma is a bitch."

used to highlight the idea that irresponsible or thoughtless behavior in youth can lead to regret and negative outcomes later in life

"Careless youth leads to difficult old age — reckless youth makes rueful age."

"He spent everything in his twenties and had nothing in his fifties — reckless youth makes rueful age."

used to suggest that those who use violence or aggression to solve problems or achieve their objectives, are likely to experience similar responses from others, leading to their downfall

"Those who use violence will suffer violence — he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword."

"The aggressive business tactics eventually turned against the company — he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword."

used to emphasize that if one engages in risky or dangerous behavior, one is likely to experience negative consequences

"Risk brings consequences — if you play with fire, you get burned."

"She ignored every warning and the project collapsed — if you play with fire, you get burned."

used to imply that indulging in dangerous or risky activities for mere pleasure can lead to severe consequences

"Do not seek hardship for fun — he that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime."

"Voluntarily taking on the most thankless role in the organisation was baffling to her colleagues — he that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime."