reap the whirlwind
Face destructive blowback
To reap the whirlwind is to suffer severe consequences from earlier actions or choices.
The phrase comes from the biblical warning "they that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind"—meaning those who cause small troubles will face much larger ones in return.
They ignored environmental warnings for decades; now they're reaping the whirlwind.
- HoseaEighth-century Israelite prophet
- consequenceResult of an action
- chickens come homePast wrongs revisit their source
- come back to biteCause future harm
- backlashStrong negative reaction
boomerang effect · biblical · domino effect · play with fire · Old Testament · harvest · causality · karma · poetic justice · just desserts · recklessness · escalation · divine retribution · proverbial · outcome · payback · face the music · result
reap the whirlwindcome up smelling of roses
Emerge favorably despite trouble
get away with it · land on one's feet · dodge a bullet · reap the benefits · get away with murder
reap the whirlwindreap the benefits
cash in · hit the jackpot · strike gold · come up roses · land on one's feet
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