pay the fiddler

pay the fiddler

To face, accept, or suffer repercussions for one's actions or words, especially that would be expected to incur punishment. (A less common version of "pay the piper.") After three nights of heavy drinking, I'm really going to be paying the fiddler come Monday morning! With the judge handing down the maximum possible sentence, this monster will be paying the fiddler for the rest of his life.
See also: fiddler, pay
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • pay the consequences
  • pay the piper
  • pay the piper, to
  • suffer the consequences
  • face the consequences
  • face the music
  • face the music, to
  • (one's) day in court
  • ask for
  • at (one's) doorstep
References in periodicals archive
It brings rapidly to mind the old adage, "they who pay the fiddler calls the tune".
We've got write stuff; YOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES
There's an old saying: "If you want to dance, you have to pay the fiddler." Face it, the only tax people like is one they don't have to pay.
LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG