pay the piper

noun

1. a person who plays on a pipe.
2. a bagpiper.

Idioms

3. pay the piper,
   1. to pay the cost of something.
   2. to bear the unfavorable consequences of one’s actions or pleasures: Someday he’ll have to pay the piper for all that gambling.

noun

1. a person who plays a pipe or bagpipes
2. pay the piper and call the tune to bear the cost of an undertaking and control it

noun

1. John. 1903–92, British artist. An official war artist in World War II, he is known esp for his watercolours of bombed churches and his stained glass in Coventry Cathedral

n.Old English pipere, agent noun from pipe (v.). As a kind of fish, from c.1600. Expression pay the piper recorded from 1680s. To pay the consequences for self-indulgent behavior: “If you stay up late at night to watch TV, in the morning you will have to pay the piper.” see under call the tune. see call the tune (pay the piper).