# pay the penalty

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pay-the-penalty
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To incur negative consequences of one's deeds; to suffer as a result of some choice.

## Examples

- 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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.