instant karma

English

Etymology

instant +‎ karma

Noun

instant karma (uncountable)

1. A circumstance where something deserving but unexpected happens, especially, when a person's actions backfire and cause an immediate unforeseen and unintended effect that may be deemed just deserts for those actions.
   • 1957, May Sarton, The Fur Person, New York: Rinehart, page 21:

     He was after all, still a young cat, and at this instant karma was stronger than any rule or regulation.

   • 1971, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire (lyrics and music), “I've Seen All Good People”, performed by Yes:

     Don't surround yourself with yourself
     Move on back two squares
     Send an instant karma to me
     Initial it with loving care.

   • 1991 May 5, The Canberra Times, page 9, column 2:

     The eyes that met Paul's across a crowded London club 22 years ago when she was an unknown freelance photographer and he was, what? A god? "Instant karma" — this said romantically.

Translations

circumstance

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 現世報／现世报 (zh) (xiànshìbào) ("karmic retribution within one's lifetime")

• Finnish: välitön karma (idiomatic expression with similar meaning: saada ansionsa mukaan)
• French: please add this translation if you can
• German: (as a noun, rare anglicism) sofortiges Karma n; (idiomatic phrase with the same meaning) kleine Sünden bestraft der liebe Gott sofort (literally “minor sins are punished by God right away”)