[Idiom] It serves you right.

[Innocent Fairy]

What does "It serves you right mean"?

 

[riquecohen]

What does "It serves you right mean"?

It means that you got what you deserved.
Your mother told you to be sure to wear your hat and scarf because the temperature is dropping. You didn't do so and went out inappropriately dressed for the cold weather and caught a cold. Your mother then says, "It serves you right for not listening to me."

 

[Innocent Fairy]

It means that you got what you deserved.
Your mother told you to be sure to wear your hat and scarf because the temperature is dropping. You didn't do so and went out inappropriately dressed for the cold weather and caught a cold. Your mother then says, "It serves you right for not listening to me."

In this case shouldn't she have said " It served you right" because I got a cold and it happened in the past?

 

[riquecohen]

In this case shouldn't she have said " It served you right" because I got a cold and it happened in the past?

Not necessarily, because you are still suffering from this cold..