hell to pay
Inevitable harsh consequences
Hell to pay describes serious consequences or trouble awaiting someone: If she finds out you lied, there'll be hell to pay.
The phrase suggests punishment or retribution is coming, often from an authority figure or someone wronged.
It typically appears with "there'll be" or "there's going to be."
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- troubleDifficulty or distress
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- consequenceResult of an action
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
face the music · complication · punishment · read the riot act · reprisal · reckoning · day of reckoning · in hot water · stew · retaliation · embarrassment · vengeance · culpability · justice · fury · answerable · penalty · dread
- retributionretribution, revenge, payback, vengeance, retaliation
hell to payforgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
off the hook · scot-free · clean slate · no harm done · smooth sailing
hell, pay, hells, hellish, pays, paying, payable, payment, payments