Payback's a b***h: an expression for our consideration.

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According to the Wikitionary definition of the title idiom,
payback's a b***h can mean either "Sooner or later, I'll get you for this" or "You had that [misfortune] coming."

I what what this forum thinks of it: do we pay attention to the she-dog in this
expression, or are we talking about a sluttish woman, or how do we understand this idiom?

I understand it to mean that retribution is something particularly vicious or savage.

In this context, "a b***h" is simply a very unpleasant (and often unduly complicated) situation.

As in the phrase "Ain't Love a b***h"

It seems to be something you say right after you get even with someone, just to rub it in a little bit more, i.e. "payback's a b***h, ain't it?". I always thought this was one of those phrases you only hear in the movies though. I mean, has anyone actually heard someone use it in real life? I don't think I have.

"you just got served" is another one that means pretty much the same thing I think.

I think saying "something is a b***h" means it's annoying, hard to do, hard to deal with.


Looking for a place to live is a b***h, looking for work is a b***h, planning a wedding is a b***h, having deadlines is definitely a b***h.

Also

"a b***h" = "painful / not pleasent"