Be/do something for your sins Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Usage The phrase is casual and might be unclear in formal or non-UK English contexts. He's doing the extra work for his sins of missing the deadline. Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal It's often used jokingly and doesn't usually imply serious wrongdoing. I'm on dishwashing duty for my sins of cooking a bad meal. Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Punishment The 'sins' are often minor mistakes, not actual severe offenses. I'm proofreading the whole report for my sins of typos.