pays the price
Bears the cost
To pay the price is to suffer the consequences of an action or decision, especially negative ones that follow from earlier choices.
The phrase implies a kind of cosmic accounting—benefits taken now must eventually be balanced: He partied through college and now he's paying the price.
Sometimes used for deliberate sacrifice: She paid the price for speaking out.
- payWages for work
- forfeitLose through violation
- face the musicAccept deserved consequences
- aftereffectDelayed secondary consequence
- pay dearlyFace harsh consequences
suffer the consequences · penalty · fallout · culpability · relinquishment · learn the hard way · answerability · responsibility · ramification · outcome · surrender · blame · hardship · ripple effect · result · bitter pill · redemption · atonement