paid the price
Faced the fallout
To pay the price is to suffer consequences for an action or decision, especially one that was risky, wrong, or ill-advised.
The price is figurative—not money but hardship, loss, or regret: He partied through college and paid the price when no one would hire him.
Sometimes the phrase acknowledges necessary sacrifice: She paid the price for success with years of grueling work.
- repercussionIndirect result of action
- costRequired payment amount
- consequenceResult of an action
- learned the hard wayAcquired knowledge through misfortune
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
forfeit · penalty · pay the piper · reckoning · day of reckoning · karma · punishment · chickens come home · fallout · comeuppance · face the music · retribution · pound of flesh · atonement · guilt · aftermath · toll · regret