reaping the whirlwind
Suffering inevitable blowback
Reaping the whirlwind means suffering severe consequences from earlier reckless actions.
The phrase comes from the biblical proverb "They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind"—if you scatter trouble carelessly, you harvest a storm.
After years of ignoring infrastructure, the city is now reaping the whirlwind.
The image suggests consequences disproportionate to the original misdeed.
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- recklessnessCareless disregard for danger
- repercussionIndirect result of action
- consequenceResult of an action
- stormSevere atmospheric disturbance
backlash · divine retribution · hubris · folly · scripture · comeuppance · poetic justice · Hosea · Old Testament · accountability · causality · blowback · chickens coming home · karma · just desserts · tempest · unintended consequences · domino effect
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