hell to pay

hell to pay

Very negative or severe consequences. There will be hell to pay if you come home after curfew yet again.
See also: hell, pay
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hell to pay

Great trouble, as in If we're wrong there'll be hell to pay. [c. 1800]
See also: hell, pay
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

there'll be hell to pay

You can say that there'll be hell to pay to warn someone that someone will be very angry if a particular thing happens or if it does not happen. If I forget Nicole's book, there'll be hell to pay. You know what she's like. Next thing she'll find out about that night in Rugby and there'll be hell to pay. Note: In British English, you can also say that there'll be merry hell to pay. `Drop that!' she snarled at Kenny. `If the girls see it, there'll be merry hell to pay!'
See also: hell, pay
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

ˈhell/the ˈdevil to pay

(informal) a lot of trouble: There’ll be hell to pay when your father sees that broken window.
See also: devil, hell, pay
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hell to pay

Great trouble: If we're wrong, there'll be hell to pay.
See also: hell, pay
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

hell to pay, there'll be

The consequences will be terrible; there’ll be a heavy penalty. Originating about 1800, this term once meant discord or severe trouble. The OED quotes a letter by Lord Paget (1807): “There has been hell to pay between the Dukes of York and Cumberland.”
See also: hell
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • hell to pay, there'll be
  • there will be hell to pay
  • have hell to pay
  • hell/the devil to pay
  • there'll be hell to pay
  • see (one) in hell before (doing something)
  • once hell freezes over
  • would see (someone) in hell before (one) would (do something)
  • be hell on wheels
  • hell and high water
References in periodicals archive
And there will be hell to pay if one of our big names goes down before the Ashes," he concluded.
'CA needs to stop Oz players from overloading themselves by playing in IPL'
If not, there will be hell to pay in more ways than one" Sir Bernard Ingham on the NHS controversy "Politicians, the media - we now live in a world of soundbites.
THEY SAID WHAT?
However, at the same time we are never happier than when a big new signing is paraded on the pitch and there can be hell to pay if one of our established stars is sold.
We might be 'solid' but fans are tired of lack of progress
If they lay one finger on our Lambanana I swear to God there will be hell to pay. Do you hear me?
My plan for the Trojan Superlamb; SIX in the City
And when Jackie dares to visit a strip bar with the trainers or doesn't call Mimi when she's supposed to, there's hell to pay.
Power lesbian: Jackie Warner, owner of Beverly Hills gym Sky Sport and Spa, is blazing trails as the out lesbian star of Work Out, Bravo's hot new reality show
But when the wicked woman of Weatherfield finds out his plan, there is hell to pay.
Television : Zoe spills the beans about affair with Dirty Den
Later, back at the hotel, he gets close to tormentor Tracy and even though nothing happens, there's hell to pay when Karen sees the whole debacle played out on the wide-screen TV at the Rovers.
TV GUIDE: SOAP SUDS
There will be hell to pay back at the regiment at Hereford if they find out.
One code I'll never crack
'But if he came back injured there would be hell to pay.'
HELL TO PAY!
If the waiter had not offered me a complimentary orange squash to soothe my baking gums, there would have been hell to pay.
Sport on TV: Pick of the Day
Giggs adds: "There is hell to pay if Roy isn't on the winning side and that goes for everything he's involved in.
Football: GIGGS HITS OUT AT 'JEALOUS' CRITICS OF ACE KEANE
If Jay and the other country-bashers adopted such an attitude toward an ethnic group like Jews or Mexicans, there would be hell to pay. Stephen Gaskin Summertown, Tennessee
Response to Berry. (Letters to the Editor)
If Democrats take the path of least resistance and confirm rightwing corporate lawyers and platitude-spouting bureaucrats like Clarence Thomas promoting the Federalist Society agenda, there will be hell to pay for the Bill of Rights and public welfare generally.
Bandits in Black Robes
If I had, there would have been hell to pay from my parents.
How I knew I'd found my calling
'He keeps on saying there would be hell to pay if any violation of human rights is done by any police officer,' he said.
Don't look at us - Panelo on Tagle's warning vs arrogant 'kings'