have the devil to pay

have the devil to pay

To encounter a huge amount of trouble, typically as a result of some particular thing happening (or not happening). You'll have the devil to pay if they catch us sneaking out this late at night! I just worry that we'll have the devil to pay if he gets elected president. If you don't have that report finished by lunch, you'll have the devil to pay!

See also: devil, have, pay, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have the devil to pay

 and have hell to pay

Inf. to have a great deal of trouble. (Use hell with caution.) If you cheat on your income taxes, you'll have the devil to pay. I came home after three in the morning and had hell to pay.

See also: devil, have, pay, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.