reaped the whirlwind
Got deserved comeuppance
Reaped the whirlwind describes suffering severe consequences as a result of one's own actions or choices.
The phrase comes from the biblical proverb "sow the wind, reap the whirlwind," suggesting that small misdeeds can yield disproportionately large punishments.
It typically appears in past tense to describe someone who has already faced the fallout: He ignored every warning and reaped the whirlwind when the scandal broke.
The expression emphasizes that destructive outcomes often follow reckless or immoral behavior.
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- repercussionsIndirect results of actions
- hubrisRuinous excessive confidence
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
- backlashStrong negative reaction
recklessness · inevitability · threw to the winds · domino effect · accountability · causality · chain reaction · justice · punishment · ripple effect · escalation · storm · perfect storm · eye of the storm · regret · tempest · guilt · remorse
reaped the whirlwinddodged a bullet
Narrowly avoided serious trouble
landed on one's feet · got away with it · beat the rap · beat the odds · slipped through the cracks
reaped the whirlwindnipped in the bud
reaped, reaping, reaper, reapers, whirlwind, whirlwinds, whirl, whirls, whirled