Pay the piper

Meaning

To accept the consequences or the cost of your actions, usually when they are unpleasant. It is a reminder that there is a price to be paid for having fun or taking risks.

Serious, warning

Used in a sentence

• You stayed up all night partying, so now you have to pay the piper at work.
• If you don't save money now, you will have to pay the piper in your retirement.
• We lived beyond our means for a year and finally we had to pay the piper.