Pay the Piper: Meaning, Origin & Correct Usage

What does it mean when someone says you must pay the piper ? Discover the meaning and origin of the phrase with our guide.

We all have to pay the piper or face the consequences of our missteps. This age-old idiom has survived for at least two centuries despite the fact that most people nowadays have never seen a piper in person, much less paid one.

According to Dictionary.com, to pay the piper means to “pay the consequences for self-indulgent behavior.” 

This idiom, like many others, aim...