English Reference
Idiom idiom

come home to roost


To have negative consequences (of an action in the past).

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

His bad decisions have finally come home to roost.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of ignoring his car's maintenance, the engine failure finally came home to roost during his long road trip.

COMPLEX

The politician's history of broken promises eventually came home to roost when voters refused to support his reelection campaign.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    appetite comes with eating

    Starting an activity increases one's desire to continue it.

  2. 02

    as they come

    As it is possible to be.

  3. 03

    blow to kingdom come

    To totally destroy (something); to annihilate or wipe out (something).

  4. 04

    bring home

    To earn (money).

  5. 05

    bring home the bacon

    To have employment which provides remuneration to satisfy the basic needs of oneself and one's family.

  6. 06

    broken home

    A home in which the parents have separated or divorced.

  7. 07

    burn that bridge when one comes to it

    To anticipate dealing with a problem or situation either by acting in a manner that alienates or cuts ties with others, or merely with the expectation of encountering trouble.

  8. 08

    charity begins at home

    One should help the people closest to oneself before thinking of helping others.

Last updated August 10, 2026