pay the piper

动词 v.
中文释义

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. To pay expenses for something, and thus be in a position to be in control. idiomatic
    — Those that pay the piper must command the tune.
  2. To pay a monetary or other debt or experience unfavorable consequences, especially when the payment or consequences are inevitable or a result of something one has enjoyed. idiomatic
    — [T]he very constitution of society is based upon this volunteer system of paying the piper. Honest men pay the piper for rogues, and full purses for empty ones.

词形变化

pays the piper present,singular,third-person paying the piper participle,present paid the piper participle,past paid the piper past

词源

Sense 1 is from the English phrase who pays the piper calls the tune; sense 2 may allude to the pied piper.
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