PhrasesHub

One good turn deserves another

    Definitions

      • reciprocal kindness
        Expresses the idea that if someone does something nice for you, you should also do something nice in return

      • fairness and justice
        Emphasizes the principle of reciprocity and the belief that people should be treated in the same way they treat others

    Examples of One good turn deserves another

    • Sarah returned Alice's library book a day earlier than its due date. Alice was grateful and decided to repay the kindness by offering to walk Sarah's dog the next day.

      This example illustrates the "One good turn deserves another" idiom by showing that Alice's act of kindness would not have occurred if Sarah had not first performed a good deed by returning the book early.

    • Tom helped his neighbor, Mr. Jones, carry some heavy groceries into his house. Mr. Jones expressed his gratitude and promised to return the favor by helping Tom fix his car when it broke down.

      In this scenario, Tom's good deed of assisting Mr. Jones with the heavy groceries led to Mr. Jones extending his kind gestures by repaying the favor of car repairs.

    • Jennifer spent her weekend volunteering at a local school, and the principal thanked her for her help. The principal then invited Jennifer to attend a school meeting the following week in order to discuss ways to improve the school's programs.

      This example shows that Jennifer's good deed of volunteering at the school resulted in the principal recognizing and rewarding Jennifer with an invitation to an important meeting where Jennifer could continue making a positive impact.

    • After Lisa's neighbor cleared the snow from her driveway during a heavy snowfall, Lisa decided to repay the kindness by baking a batch of cookies and leaving them on the neighbor's doorstep.

      This example demonstrates the idiom "One good turn deserves another" by explaining that Lisa's neighbor's kindness sparked an idea in Lisa's mind to also show kindness in return by baking and giving some delicious treats.

    • John helped Sarah fix her car yesterday. Today, Sarah returned the favor and helped John move some heavy boxes. This shows that one good turn deserves another.

      The phrase "one good turn deserves another" means that when someone does something kind or helpful for you, it is only fair for you to return the favor. The idea is that goodness and kindness should be reciprocal or should lead to more kindness. In this example, John's kind gesture of helping Sarah fix her car led Sarah to reciprocate by helping John move his heavy boxes. This is an example of how one good turn can lead to another.

    • The local community center organized a fundraising event for a homeless shelter last month. This week, the same community center received a large donation from a nearby business that was moved by the success of the previous event. This goes to show that one good turn deserves another.

      Here, the community center's good deed of organizing a fundraiser for the shelter led to another good deed from the business. The success of their initial act of kindness resulted in positive momentum that led to more kindness from the business. This is a perfect example of how one good turn can lead to another.

    • Maria volunteered to teach English to a group of refugees last weekend. This week, the same group of refugees showed up at Maria's office with some homemade cookies they had made as a thank you for her help. This demonstrates that one good turn deserves another.

      The act of kindness done by Maria in teaching English to the refugees resulted in another act of kindness from the refugees in the form of the cookies. This shows that kindness begets kindness and that goodness is a cyclical affair.

    • The town council implemented a recycling program in the town last month. This week, the town council received a grant from the state for their environmental efforts. This goes to show that one good turn deserves another.

      The town council's decision to implement the recycling program is a good turn, as it promotes environmental sustainability. This act of kindness resulted in another act of kindness from the state in the form of the grant. This shows that such good deeds usually lead to other good deeds. In this example, it led to financial support for the town council's environmental initiatives.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "One good turn deserves another" is used to highlight the concept of reciprocity and fairness in relationships. It encourages people to repay acts of kindness and treat others as they would like to be treated. This idiom can be applied in various situations, reminding individuals to be considerate and to recognize the value of mutual respect and generosity.

    Origin of "One good turn deserves another"

    The origin of the idiom "One good turn deserves another" can be traced back to Ancient Greek literature. It is believed to have originated from Aesop's fables, particularly the story of "The Lion and the Mouse." In this fable, a mouse helps a lion escape from a trap, and later the lion returns the favor by sparing the mouse's life. The moral of the story is that kindness is always rewarded and that one good deed should be repaid with another.

    The idiom has been used in English since at least the 16th century, and it continues to be a popular phrase that reflects the universal principle of reciprocity and fairness. It is a timeless reminder of the importance of treating others with kindness and respect. Examples of its usage can be found in various literary works, demonstrating its enduring relevance in conveying the message of reciprocal kindness and fairness.