reap

as a man sows, so shall he reap

proverb A person's actions dictate the consequences they encounter. The phrase is Biblical in origin. Of course you're exhausted in class—you stay up too late! As a man sows, so shall he reap. He spent years trying to avoid paying taxes, and now he's facing nearly 10 years in prison for it. As a man sows, so shall he reap.
See also: he, man, reap, shall

as you sow, so shall you reap

proverb Your actions dictate the consequences. The phrase is Biblical in origin. Of course you're exhausted in class—you stay up too late! As you sow, so shall you reap. He spent years trying to avoid paying taxes, and now he's facing nearly 10 years in prison for it. As you sow, so shall you reap.
See also: reap, shall

reap (something) from (someone or something)

1. Literally, to accrue or accumulate something from the harvest of something else. We were able to reap a huge bounty of corn from the fields this year.
2. To gain, obtain, or achieve something from some source. I'll ensure you're able to reap huge profits from this investment. The data we reaped from these computer caches will enable us to take down the terrorist cell once and for all.
See also: reap

reap a/the harvest of (something)

To experience the consequences of some previous action or past event. You have three papers due on Monday? It sounds like you're reaping the harvest of your procrastination. Our students are unprepared for the workforce, and we are reaping a harvest of lowered standards.
See also: harvest, of, reap

reap the rewards

To enjoy the benefits of something. You'll always reap the rewards of hard work—don't ever forget that. He was ultimately fined for the dodgy deal, which had seen his company reap the rewards of large-scale investments without any tax burden.
See also: reap, reward

reap the whirlwind

To suffer the negative consequences of one's actions. This phrase originated in the Bible. If you don't do your homework now, you'll reap the whirlwind when you have to take your final exam.
See also: reap, whirlwind

sow the wind, (and) reap the whirlwind

proverb Foolish or thoughtless actions will have larger, more dire consequences than you may anticipate, which you will ultimately have to confront or deal with. The expression originated in the Bible, in Hosea 8:7: "For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." These bankers were worried first and foremost with making as much money as they possibly could, consequences be damned. Well, sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. I just think it makes no sense to throw away such a good job to pursue this vanity project of yours. It's your decision in the end, but sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.
See also: reap, sow, whirlwind

you reap what you sow

Your actions dictate the consequences. The phrase is Biblical in origin. Of course you're being investigated for tax fraud—you've spent years trying to avoid paying them. You reap what you sow. Of course you're exhausted in class—you stay up too late! You reap what you sow.
See also: reap, sow, what
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

As you sow, so shall you reap,

 and As a man sows, so shall he reap.
Prov. Things will happen to you good or bad, according to how you behave. (Biblical.) You should stop being so cruel to other people. As you sow, so shall you reap. Fred built an immense fortune by swindling others, but lost it all when someone swindled him. As a man sows, so shall he reap.
See also: reap, shall

reap something from something

 
1. Lit. to harvest something from something. We reaped a fine harvest from our cornfields this year. They will reap nothing from their flooded fields.
2. Fig. to gain something from something. The students reaped a lot of information from their interview with the police chief. I hope to reap some good advice from the discussion.
See also: reap

sow the wind and reap the whirlwind

Prov. to start some kind of trouble that grows much larger than you planned. (Biblical.) our enemy has sown the wind by provoking this war, and they will reap the whirlwind when we vanquish them.
See also: and, reap, sow, whirlwind, wind
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

reap the harvest

1. If someone reaps the harvest of past actions, they benefit as a result of those actions. Note: To reap a crop such as corn means to cut and gather it. He's a player at the top of his game, reaping the harvest of his own hard work. In subsequent years he would reap the harvest of his excellent training..
2. If someone reaps the harvest, they suffer now because of mistakes that they made in the past. Note: To reap a crop such as corn means to cut and gather it. We are now as a nation reaping the harvest of the lack of attention to basics in language and numbers.
See also: harvest, reap

reap the whirlwind

LITERARY
If someone reaps the whirlwind, they suffer now because of mistakes that they made in the past. Note: To reap a crop such as corn means to cut and gather it. The Government refused to tackle the problem at the time and it is now reaping the whirlwind. Note: This expression comes from the proverb sow the wind and reap the whirlwind and people sometimes use other parts of the whole expression. The Prime Minister is now reaping the economic whirlwind he helped to sow. Note: This is a quotation from the Bible. It refers to the punishment of the Israelites for disobeying God: `For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.' (Hosea 8:7)
See also: reap, whirlwind

reap what you sow

If someone reaps what they sow, they suffer or benefit as a result of their own actions. Note: To reap a crop such as corn means to cut and gather it. Parents who neglect their children will reap what they sow. It seems to me that if we neglect these people in our society, we should expect to reap what we sow. Note: People sometimes use the more formal expressions as you sow, so shall you reap or as we sow, so shall we reap. Our future lies in our own hands. Let us ensure that it is ethical and spiritual, for without doubt as we sow so shall we reap! Note: This is based on a quotation from the Bible: `Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.' (Galatians 6:7)
See also: reap, sow, what
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

reap the harvest (or fruits) of

suffer the results or consequences of.
See also: harvest, of, reap

you reap what you sow

you eventually have to face up to the consequences of your actions.
This proverbial saying exists in various forms. Its biblical source is Galatians 6:7: ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap’.
See also: reap, sow, what

reap the whirlwind

suffer serious consequences as a result of your actions.
This expression alludes to the proverb they that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind , which is taken from Hosea 8:7.
1998 Spectator A [political] party that thought all it had to do to keep Scotland happy was deliver devolution is instead reaping the whirlwind it sowed in the Eighties.
See also: reap, whirlwind
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

reap a/the ˈharvest

(British English) benefit or suffer as a direct result of something that you have done: His attacking policies have reaped a particularly good harvest overseas, where he is well known as a shrewd businessman.
See also: harvest, reap

you ˌreap what you ˈsow

(saying) you have to deal with the bad effects or results of something that you originally started: He’s so mean! When I went to him for some sympathy and understanding, all he said was ‘you reap what you sow’!
These two phrases refer to farmers cutting and collecting crops from a field.
See also: reap, sow, what

(sow the wind,) reap the ˈwhirlwind

(especially American English) suffer as a result of your actions: We will reap the whirlwind of those actions for years, if not decades, to come.This expression comes from the Bible. A whirlwind is a strong wind that spins very fast and causes a lot of damage.
See also: reap, whirlwind
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

reap the whirlwind

Suffer the consequences. Hosea 8:7's “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” has come to mean that evil deeds in the past will come back to haunt you. Another biblical verse with a similar admonition is Galatians 6:7's “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (used as the expression, “you'll reap what you sow”), and Proverbs 11:29's “He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind.” As yet another indication how popular references have shifted from the sacred to the profane, the contemporary equivalent is “Be aware of what you do, or else it may come back and bite you in the ass.”
See also: reap, whirlwind
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • teach a man to fish
  • chickens come home to roost
  • chickens come home to roost, one's
  • village
  • it takes a village
  • a woman's work is never done
  • require
  • desperate times call for desperate measures
  • desperate times require desperate measures
  • drastic
References in periodicals archive
The museum is near the old colonial section of Siem Reap and it's not difficult to see the French influence in both the architecture of the buildings as well as the street patterns, landscape, and parks.
Angkor wow
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Rice exports increase by 29 percent in 3rd Quarter of FY-17
Siem Reap is near the famous Angkor Wat temple complex.
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REAP leader informed that right now, demand for rice had increased around the globe.
Pakistan rice export touches $ 1.06 bln
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REAP: Developing a new crop of Filipino educators
During the meeting Irfan Shaikh, Ex Chairman REAP, Chela Ram, Haji Abdul Rauf Chappal, Abdul Qayyum Paracha, Anis Majeed, Ashfaq Ghafar, Fuad Garib and other leading rice exporters were also present.
Rice Exporters delegation to visit Mauritius
Zollbrecht, who ran a community education centre in Siem Reap, was arrested by authorities in February 2017 following a tip-off from an anti-pedophile organisation Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE).
American sentenced to one year in Cambodian prison for raping boy
REAP is also looking to acknowledge buyers' and their confidence in Pakistani rice to promote exports.
Reap to strengthen bond with global buyers
A visiting delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) to Sri Lanka held several meetings with the government officials, trade bodies and rice importers.
Long grain rice exports to Sri Lanka declining
ARAB NEWS The 14-member joint delegation of REAP and Pak-Saudi Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PSJCCI) is visiting Saudi Arabia from May 11-19.
Pakistan's rice exporters delegation signs MoU with JCCI
Medvedev was greeted at the Siem Reap International Airport in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province by Cambodian Minister of Industry and Handicraft Cham Prasidh and other senior government officials, the AKP said.
Russian PM starts visit to Cambodia