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Synonyms

hell to pay

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For Bondi, a woman who just hours ago was touting the president’s work ethic, there was hell to pay.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2025

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 • Jun. 3, 2023

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

From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2023

For the Astros, there would be hell to pay.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2020

They were appropriately amazed, though they did tell me in plain terms that next time I would leave a note for them or there would be hell to pay.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

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