hell to pay

Idioms and Phrases

Great trouble, as in If we're wrong there'll be hell to pay . [c. 1800]

Example Sentences

“But I quickly scrapped them all … If I don’t win, there will be hell to pay,” he jokes.

From Los Angeles Times

She would plan to build up the U.S. military as a deterrent and has said, “We need to let China know there will be hell to pay if they touch Taiwan.”

From Seattle Times

He also took it upon himself to pen a letter to several colleges issuing a demand that they comply with the recent Supreme Court ruling outlawing Affirmative Action or there would be hell to pay.

From Salon

He did not identify the Kremlin faction but said that it continued its attempts to sow discord, it would have "hell to pay".

From Reuters

Harvey responded, “It’s going to be a lot of hell to pay at your house.”

From Seattle Times