to the victor belong the spoils

The winner gets everything, as in He not only won the tournament but ended up with numerous lucrative endorsements—to the victor belong the spoils. This expression alludes to the spoils system of American politics, whereby the winner of an election gives desirable jobs to party supporters. [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

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In defending one of President Andrew Jackson’s appointments, Marcy said, “To the victor belong the spoils of the enemy.”

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The old expression, “to the victor belong the spoils” — you remember.

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“In the old days, to the victor belong the spoils. We don't do that,” he said.

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“It used to be, ‘To the victor belong the spoils,’” he said at a “commander in chief forum” in New York during the campaign in 2016.

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“To the victor belong the spoils of the enemy,” one Jackson ally quipped.

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