have the devil to pay

have the devil to pay

To encounter a huge amount of trouble, typically as a result of some particular thing happening (or not). You'll have the devil to pay if they catch us sneaking out this late at night! I just worry that we'll have the devil to pay if he gets elected president.
See also: devil, have, pay
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have the devil to pay

 and have hell to pay
Inf. to have a great deal of trouble. (Use hell with caution.) If you cheat on your income taxes, you'll have the devil to pay. I came home after three in the morning and had hell to pay.
See also: devil, have, pay
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • devil to pay, the
  • the devil to pay
  • there will be the devil to pay
  • there will be the deuce to pay
  • the deuce to pay
  • be in trouble
  • get in(to) trouble
  • get into trouble
  • in trouble
  • in trouble with
References in periodicals archive
The sentence suggested that those who didn't toe the line would "truly have the devil to pay ...."
Knit-pickers who don't tow the line will soon have the devil to pay