Pay the Piper

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Pay the Piper

1. To repay a debt.

2. To face a coming punishment, especially if one has made a serious mistake. One pays the piper by facing the wronged supervisor or client.

References in periodicals archive ?

Those who pay the piper are always tempted to call the tune and we want a firm reassurance from all concerned that S4C will be able to continue to manage its own affairs.

THE DAILY POST SAYS

The holidays are now over and it's time to pay the piper .

Butch's corner: the holidays ... let the eating begin!

The pair were also secret ly recorded that month when McDonald said: "He's got to pay the Piper boy and the Piper's not a happy man.

ROT IN JAIL; JUDGES REJECT MURDERERS' APPEAL

It's likely Judge Fox will sentence her immediately since she already confessed and appears ready to pay the piper, said local DUI attorney Paul Takakjian.

LiLo will go to jail, but will probably not serve full 30-day sentence: Experts

I would like to point out to Nussbaum and others who continue to present their tired rationalizations that if you dance to the music you have to pay the piper.

Media and abuse

Neglect PM and you may get by a hundred times and only pay the piper once.

No margin for error

So, as always, it's the soldiers who pay the piper for politicians who, as the trumpets play the Last Post, have suddenly qualified their support of the war and emerged from their foxholes to attempt to score points with the blood of young men.

Young soldiers being left to pay the tune by cynical politicians

Sourcing local produce is slightly more expensive, but people are prepared to pay the piper at the end of the day.

Local meat helps firm to award

It's no wonder they took the money but unfortunately thanks to the credit crunch they are about to pay the piper.