pay the penalty
To incur negative consequences of one's deeds; to suffer as a result of some choice.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“If you break the rules, you must pay the penalty.”
“He ignored the warning signs about his health and eventually had to pay the penalty with a long hospital stay.”
“Those who choose to ignore the long-term environmental consequences of their industrial practices will eventually pay the penalty when the natural resources are exhausted.”
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hell to pay
Very unpleasant consequences; a great deal of trouble.
- 02
hit pay dirt
To strike it rich; to get lucky or have a big break.
- 03
marriage penalty
A situation where a married couple pays more in taxes, typically income taxes, when filing jointly, than the two individuals would pay if filing as singles separately.
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pay a visit
To visit.
- 05
pay attention
To attend; to be attentive; to focus one's attention.
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pay dividends
To bring about something good as a result of past effort or actions.
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pay heed
To give attention; to heed.
- 08
pay homage to
to show honor or respect to; to honor; to do, make or pay obeisance to
Last updated August 10, 2026