Cool MateSanction vs That's your punishment
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Sanction
That's your punishment
| Sanction | That's your punishment | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsæŋkʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsæŋkʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts jɔːr ˈpʌnɪʃmənt//🇺🇸 //ðæts jɔːr ˈpʌnɪʃmənt// |
| Meaning | To allow or approve something, or to punish someone for something. | A consequence for doing something wrong. |
| Example | The government imposed economic sanctions on the country to discourage its aggressive actions. | If you break the rules again, that's your punishment. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | economic, financial, military, apply, enforce, impose, sanction against, sanction for, the imposition of sanctions, the lifting of sanctions, a threat of sanctions, government, official, divine, give something, with somebody/something’s sanction, without somebody/something’s sanction, economic, financial, military, apply, enforce, impose, sanction against, sanction for, the imposition of sanctions, the lifting of sanctions, a threat of sanctions | face a punishment, impose a punishment, serve a punishment |
| Antonyms | approve, permit | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with the opposite meaning (approval vs punishment)., Omitting the object when using the word., Using it in informal contexts where approval is meant. | Using 'punishment' as a verb instead of a noun., Confusing it with 'penalty' which may imply a more formal consequence., Using the phrase sarcastically in serious situations. |
| Usage notes | In formal contexts, 'sanction' can imply both approval and punishment, which can be confusing. In legal or diplomatic language, it's often used to refer to punitive measures against countries or organizations. Avoid using in casual conversations. | Commonly used in conversations about discipline or consequences. Avoid using it in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Sanction vs That's your punishment
What's the difference between Sanction and That's your punishment?
Sanction: To allow or approve something, or to punish someone for something. That's your punishment: A consequence for doing something wrong.
Which is more formal: Sanction and That's your punishment?
Sanction is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Sanction and That's your punishment?
That's your punishment is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Sanction: The government imposed economic sanctions on the country to discourage its aggressive actions. That's your punishment: If you break the rules again, that's your punishment.
Can I use Sanction and That's your punishment interchangeably?
Not always. Sanction and That's your punishment are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.