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Glite Dictionary
to pay the piper

to pay the piper

9 7.7
Accept the bad result of something you did
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : pagar las consecuencias
  • Everyone enjoys the benefits of the project, but now it's time for us to pay the piper and face the consequences.
  • time to pay the piper
  • got to pay the piper
  • now pay the piper

But the value accreted to that point, they should pay the piper.

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Examples

Synonyms

to pay
vsto pay the piper
∞ 4.1

To suffer bad results because of your actions

is more about accepting outcomes rather than the punitive tone here
to take the fall
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
55 7.5

Accept blame or punishment, often instead of someone else

usually means accepting one’s own unpleasant results, not substituting for others
to face the music
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
19 4.5

Accept and deal with unpleasant results or criticism for something you did

emphasizes accepting results rather than handling public criticism specifically
to get what's coming to someone
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
13 6.7

To receive punishment or bad results for doing wrong

focuses on deserved punishment, while key covers unpleasant consequences broadly
to bear the brunt
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
13 6.7

Take the worst part of something bad

is about accepting consequences of actions rather than bearing the main harm
to pay dearly
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
12 5.8

To suffer serious harm or loss because of an action

covers unpleasant consequences generally, not necessarily severe suffering
to reap what you sow
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
8 6.0

To get the results of your actions, good or bad

is about accepting unpleasant outcomes rather than stressing moral cause
to take one's medicine
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
5 6.1

Accept punishment or a bad result without complaining

covers acceptance of consequences more broadly, not only silent endurance
to take one's lumps
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
2 8.1

To accept unpleasant results and sometimes punishment for something you did

is about accepting consequences generally rather than focusing on endurance
to pay the fiddler
vsto pay the piper
  • Archaic
1 8.9

Face the bad results of your actions after enjoying something

is similar but applies to any consequences, not only after enjoyment
to pay the freight
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
1 8.1

To accept the cost or bad result of something

focuses on unpleasant results rather than material or financial costs alone
to make your bed and lie in it
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
7.0

To accept the bad results of your own choices

is the same idea but phrased more generally for any actions
to get one's lumps
vsto pay the piper
  • Informal
8.6

To be punished for something you did wrong

highlights willing acceptance of outcomes rather than merely receiving them

Antonyms

escape
77 1.1

An act of avoiding harm or a dangerous situation

to shirk
19 6.3

To avoid doing work because it is hard or unpleasant

How Severe

to pay dearly
  • Informal
12 5.8
punished
1.4
to pay the piper
  • Informal
9 7.7
to face the music
  • Informal
19 4.5

Surface Forms

pay the piper infinitive
paid the piper past
paid the piper past participle
paying the piper present participle
pays the piper third person singular

Morphology

pay + the + piper

Although 'pay' conveys giving or suffering a cost, the noun 'piper' (a musician) has no obvious link to 'unpleasant consequences', so a learner who knows the words would likely interpret this literally (paying a musician). The expression is idiomatic and historically figurative, so its sense 'accept the consequences' is not transparently derivable from the constituents for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The idiom pay the piper may come from old times when a village hired a musician, a piper, to play at a party; if the host did not pay him, the piper would complain or cause trouble. So today pay the piper means 'face the consequences' for something you have done.