instant karma en · NOUN
Etymology
From instant + karma.
Meanings
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(uncountable) 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.
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.
1991 May 5, The Canberra Times, page 9, column 2:Don't surround yourself with yourself Move on back two squares Send an instant karma to me Initial it with loving care.
1971, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, “I've Seen All Good People”, performed by Yes:
Relateds
karmic debt · karmic blowback · duskarma · karma
Translations (6)
id kualat (circumstance) · de sofortiges Karma (circumstance) · fr retour de bâton (circumstance) · de kleine Sünden bestraft der liebe Gott sofort (circumstance) · pl instant karma (circumstance) · cmn 現世報 /现世报 (circumstance)