hell to pay, there'll be
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.
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
- hell to pay
- 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