he who pays the piper calls the tune

proverb The person who pays for something will or should dictate how something should be done. At the end of the day, though, their company is paying for the study, and he who pays the piper calls the tune. You're buying us all dinner? In that case, you can pick where we go. He who pays the piper calls the tune, as they say! Mega donors have so much sway because he who pays the piper calls the tune, unfortunately.

See also: call, he, pay, piper, tune, who

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

Prov. If you are paying for someone's services, you can dictate exactly what you want that person to do. When Mrs. Dalton told the artist what she wanted her portrait to look like, the artist cringed to think that anyone could have such bad taste. Still, he who pays the piper calls the tune, and Mrs. Dalton got what she wanted.

See also: call, he, pay, piper, tune, who

he who pays the piper calls the tune

People say he who pays the piper calls the tune to mean that the person who pays for something has the right to decide what it will be like. He who pays the piper calls the tune. It's important our customers have a real say on the balance between demands for improved services and increasing charges. Note: People often vary this expression. If these countries are to pay the piper, they will expect at least some say in his choice of tune. They had a strong tendency to call the tune without paying the piper. Compare with call the tune. Note: This may come from the custom, dating back to the 17th century, of hiring travelling musicians to play at festivals and weddings. The people who paid for the music were able to choose the tunes they wanted to hear.

See also: call, he, pay, piper, tune, who

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

he who pays the ˌpiper calls the ˈtune

(saying) the person who provides the money for something has the right to say how it should be spent; the person with power makes the decisions: The Rockefeller Foundation helps the project financially, and they have the right to say ‘no’ to any part of it. He who pays the piper...

A piper is a musician who plays a pipe or the bagpipes. The person who hires them can choose what songs they play.

See also: call, he, pay, piper, tune, who

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

See also:

References in periodicals archive

True to that old adage about he who pays the piper calls the tune, the Pentagon acknowledges that "Countries participating in BRI could develop economic dependence on Chinese capital, which China could leverage to achieve its interests." This is not fearmongering - there is already evidence of economic dependence pressuring countries to behave in ways that suit China's interests.

Asia, Africa must be ready for China's great power games

He who pays the piper calls the tune, and bearing in mind the obscene amount of money being poured into the coffers of the FA and Premiership by SKY and BT, nothing is likely to change in the foreseeable future.

Money wins against the fans

"It's a very, very serious situation." Raising concerns about long-term independence, he said: "[What] concerns us is that as the saying goes, he who pays the piper calls the tune. We are concerned that the situation in the long-run means that S4C don't have the adequate independence to operate as an independent broadcaster."

Channel's future independence at risk - Cymdeithas

Friday night rugby might have the traditionalists up in arms but the reality as always is he who pays the piper calls the tune.

England looking good for opening Six Nations test

THEY say he who pays the piper calls the tune. An "independent" report into the prospective development of Walton Hall Park for a new Everton stadium, housing and retail uses reckons a little piece of heaven on earth would be created in North Liverpool as a result.

'Independence' of Walton Hall Park report looks dubious

They're probably the ones who recognise that he who pays the piper calls the tune.

He who pays the piper calls the tune; As Sky announces extension to broadcast deal, some counties are crying out for new schedule which will help boost their profile

If it's true that he who pays the piper calls the tune, then it's fair to ask who is choosing the music to which the Tories dance.

Ed's decision may cost Labour dear

As any banker will tell you, he who pays the piper calls the tune. A more integrated euro zone would issue eurobonds and have a common budget and fiscal policy.

Ticking time bombs: business owners should expect more economic volatility on the horizon in the coming years

Canadian scientists are learning the truth of the old maxim, "He who pays the piper calls the tune." While the general public and most scientists believe that science should be a search for truth, government ministers in Ottawa have a different notion.

Canada muzzles its scientists; can the U.S. be far behind?

He who pays the piper calls the tune, and it looks as if Chancellor Angela Merkel's German government is paying the GM piper quite generously.

Carmakers face some hard work

In our consumer-oriented economic system it is an honored maxim that he who pays the piper calls the tune. Directorial boards of arts organizations--nonprofessional, philanthropic men and women altruistically devoted to the art form they are supporting--have just one function.

Attitudes