pay dearly
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Littéralement: To pay (give money) dearly (at a high price)
Use this phrase to describe suffering significant consequences for a specific action or error.
En 15 secondes
- Facing heavy consequences for a mistake or a bad decision.
- Using 'dearly' to mean a high emotional or physical cost.
- A serious way to warn someone about potential future suffering.
Signification
This phrase means you will suffer a lot because of a mistake or a bad choice. It is not always about money; it is usually about losing time, health, or happiness.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Warning a friend about health
If you keep working 15 hours a day, you will pay dearly for it later.
If you keep working 15 hours a day, you will pay dearly for it later.
Discussing a business failure
The company ignored the market trends and paid dearly when sales dropped.
The company ignored the market trends and paid dearly when sales dropped.
Texting about a missed opportunity
I missed the deadline and I'm paying dearly for it now with this extra work.
I missed the deadline and I'm paying dearly for it now with this extra work.
Contexte culturel
The phrase utilizes the archaic sense of 'dear' meaning 'costly' or 'valuable'. It reflects a deeply rooted cultural idea in English-speaking societies that actions have inevitable, often painful, consequences. It is frequently used in political commentary and classic literature to highlight the gravity of a leader's mistake.
Add 'for it'
The phrase almost always ends with 'for it' or 'for [the mistake]'. It helps connect the suffering to the cause.
Don't use for money
If you just bought an expensive shirt, don't say 'I paid dearly for this shirt' unless the shirt caused your divorce!
En 15 secondes
- Facing heavy consequences for a mistake or a bad decision.
- Using 'dearly' to mean a high emotional or physical cost.
- A serious way to warn someone about potential future suffering.
What It Means
To pay dearly means to face very painful consequences. It is like buying something with your peace of mind instead of cash. If you make a big mistake, the universe might send you a heavy bill. It implies that the cost of your action is much higher than you expected. Think of it as a life lesson that hurts your heart or your lifestyle.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when talking about risks or bad decisions. It usually follows a verb like will or might. For example, 'If you lie to her, you will pay dearly for it.' You can use it for small things, like skipping sleep. You can also use it for huge things, like starting a war. It sounds dramatic and serious. It adds weight to your warning.
When To Use It
Use it when the stakes are high. It is perfect for a serious talk with a friend. Use it in business when a bad strategy might ruin the company. It works well in storytelling or when giving advice. If someone is being reckless, this phrase is your best tool. It tells them the danger is real and very expensive.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for tiny, funny accidents. If you drop a spoon, you do not pay dearly. That would sound too intense! Avoid it in very light, bubbly conversations. It can sound a bit dark or threatening if used incorrectly. Also, do not use it if you are literally just paying a high price at a shop. Just say 'it was expensive' instead.
Cultural Background
This expression comes from the old meaning of dear, which means 'expensive'. In the past, if something was 'dear', it cost a lot of gold. Over time, English speakers started using it for emotions and life events. It reflects a worldview where every action has a price. It is a very common theme in Western literature and old fables.
Common Variations
You might hear people say pay a high price or pay the price. These mean the same thing but feel a bit more modern. Pay dearly is the most poetic version. Some people say pay through the nose, but that is specifically about money. Pay dearly is much broader and more emotional. It covers everything from lost love to lost jobs.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is neutral but leans toward the dramatic. Use it to emphasize that a mistake wasn't just small—it was life-changing or very damaging.
Add 'for it'
The phrase almost always ends with 'for it' or 'for [the mistake]'. It helps connect the suffering to the cause.
Don't use for money
If you just bought an expensive shirt, don't say 'I paid dearly for this shirt' unless the shirt caused your divorce!
The 'Dear' Secret
In British English, 'dear' is still sometimes used to mean 'expensive' in shops. 'That's a bit dear!' means 'That's pricey!'
Exemples
6If you keep working 15 hours a day, you will pay dearly for it later.
If you keep working 15 hours a day, you will pay dearly for it later.
Here it refers to losing health or burnout.
The company ignored the market trends and paid dearly when sales dropped.
The company ignored the market trends and paid dearly when sales dropped.
Professional context regarding financial loss.
I missed the deadline and I'm paying dearly for it now with this extra work.
I missed the deadline and I'm paying dearly for it now with this extra work.
Informal use regarding a personal mistake.
You're eating that whole chili? Your stomach is going to pay dearly tomorrow!
You're eating that whole chili? Your stomach is going to pay dearly tomorrow!
Hyperbole used for comedic effect.
He betrayed his best friend, and he paid dearly for his disloyalty.
He betrayed his best friend, and he paid dearly for his disloyalty.
Focuses on the emotional and social cost.
The nation paid dearly for the government's lack of preparation.
The nation paid dearly for the government's lack of preparation.
Used to describe large-scale societal consequences.
Teste-toi
Choose the best word to complete the warning.
If you don't study for the final exam, you might ___ dearly for it.
The standard collocation is 'pay dearly' to mean suffering consequences.
Complete the sentence to show a high cost of a mistake.
The athlete ignored his injury and paid ___ when he had to retire early.
'Dearly' is used here to emphasize the severity of the consequence (retiring early).
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Pay Dearly'
Used with friends for dramatic effect.
You'll pay dearly for eating my cake!
Standard everyday warnings or advice.
He paid dearly for his mistake.
Used in literature or news reports.
The regime paid dearly for its aggression.
When to say 'Pay Dearly'
Health Choices
Skipping sleep for weeks.
Financial Risks
Investing in a scam.
Relationships
Breaking someone's trust.
Work/Career
Missing a huge presentation.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it rarely involves actual cash. It usually refers to emotional pain, loss of time, or negative health effects like in he paid dearly for his smoking habit.
Not exactly. 'Pay a lot' is literal for money. Pay dearly implies a deep, painful sacrifice or a tragic consequence.
No, it is almost always negative. You only pay dearly for mistakes, errors, or bad luck.
It is used, but usually as a joke. If a friend steals your fries, you might text You will pay dearly for this! to be funny.
Pay the price is more common and neutral. Pay dearly is more intense and emphasizes how much the person suffered.
No, that is not a standard expression. If the consequence was small, we just say 'it wasn't a big deal' or 'he got off easy'.
Yes, it is perfectly fine for professional writing to describe a major strategic failure or a loss of reputation.
It comes from the old English word for 'expensive'. It is the same root as 'dear' (someone you love), because things you love are valuable.
Yes, paid dearly is very common when looking back at history or past mistakes.
It is a collocation. The words keep their basic meanings, but they are very strongly paired together in English.
Expressions liées
Pay the price
To experience the bad result of something you did.
Face the music
To accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.
Cost an arm and a leg
To be extremely expensive (usually literal money).
At a heavy cost
Achieving something but losing a lot in the process.
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