Example
“The company ignored the warning signs for years, and now it must pay the piper.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
pay your dues
CEFR C1to endure hard, unglamorous work early on as the price of later success
slippery slope
CEFR B1a course of action that seems small or harmless but leads, step by step, to a serious or disastrous result
make or break
CEFR B2to be the single decisive factor between success and failure
throw caution to the wind
CEFR B2to act boldly or recklessly without considering the possible consequences
err on the side of
CEFR C1choose the safer course when uncertainty makes either option imperfect
siren song
CEFR C1a seductive attraction that draws someone toward danger or an unwise action
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.