pay the price
يدفع الثمن
Use this to describe the inevitable negative results of a choice or action someone took.
15秒了解
- Facing negative consequences for a past mistake or action.
- Used for health, business, or personal life setbacks.
- Implies that the bad result was avoidable but earned.
意思
This phrase means experiencing the negative consequences of a bad decision or a mistake you made earlier.
关键例句
3 / 6Talking about health after a long night
I stayed up all night, and now I'm paying the price with this headache.
لقد سهرت طوال الليل، والآن أدفع الثمن بهذا الصداع.
A business meeting discussing a failed strategy
The company is paying the price for ignoring customer feedback.
الشركة تدفع الثمن لتجاهلها ملاحظات العملاء.
Texting a friend who skipped studying
You'll pay the price during the final exam if you don't start now!
ستدفع الثمن خلال الامتحان النهائي إذا لم تبدأ الآن!
文化背景
The phrase reflects the Western cultural emphasis on individual accountability and the 'law of consequences.' It has roots in trade and commerce but evolved into a moral metaphor used widely in 20th-century politics and cinema.
Add an adjective
To sound more like a native speaker, add 'heavy' or 'dear' (e.g., 'pay a heavy price') to emphasize how bad the situation is.
Not for actual shopping
Don't use this when you are actually buying something at a store. Use 'pay the cost' or 'pay the amount' instead.
15秒了解
- Facing negative consequences for a past mistake or action.
- Used for health, business, or personal life setbacks.
- Implies that the bad result was avoidable but earned.
What It Means
Think of this like a debt you didn't know you were building. When you pay the price, you are finally facing the music. It means suffering the bad results of something you did. It isn't usually about actual money. It is about your health, your time, or your reputation. If you stay up until 4 AM watching movies, you will pay the price at work tomorrow.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to link a past action to a current problem. It works perfectly with the word for. For example, you pay the price for being late. You can also use it as a warning to others. It fits into almost any sentence structure. You can say someone 'is paying' the price right now. Or you can say they 'will pay' it later.
When To Use It
Use it when the consequence feels fair or inevitable. Use it when talking about health, like skipping the gym. It is great for business when a company makes a poor choice. Use it with friends when they ignore your good advice. It adds a bit of drama to the conversation. It makes the consequence sound serious and unavoidable.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for small, lucky accidents. If you trip on a rug, you didn't pay the price. That was just bad luck. Avoid using it for positive things. You don't pay the price for winning the lottery. Also, be careful using it with grieving people. It can sound like you are saying they deserve their pain. Stay away from it in very lighthearted, silly jokes.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from the idea of 'karma' or 'reaping what you sow.' Western culture loves the idea of personal responsibility. If you do the crime, you do the time. It has been used in English literature for centuries. It reflects a worldview where every action has an equal reaction. It is a very common trope in Hollywood movies and political speeches.
Common Variations
Sometimes people say pay a heavy price to show how bad it is. You might hear pay the ultimate price, which usually means dying. Another variation is pay the piper. This one is a bit more old-fashioned. It implies that the party is over and now you must pay. All of these focus on the same idea: nothing in life is truly free.
使用说明
The phrase is very versatile and sits in the 'neutral' register. It is common in journalism, casual storytelling, and professional feedback.
Add an adjective
To sound more like a native speaker, add 'heavy' or 'dear' (e.g., 'pay a heavy price') to emphasize how bad the situation is.
Not for actual shopping
Don't use this when you are actually buying something at a store. Use 'pay the cost' or 'pay the amount' instead.
The 'Ultimate' Price
In news and history, 'paying the ultimate price' almost always means someone died for a cause, usually in war.
例句
6I stayed up all night, and now I'm paying the price with this headache.
لقد سهرت طوال الليل، والآن أدفع الثمن بهذا الصداع.
Linking a physical symptom to a choice.
The company is paying the price for ignoring customer feedback.
الشركة تدفع الثمن لتجاهلها ملاحظات العملاء.
Professional context regarding corporate mistakes.
You'll pay the price during the final exam if you don't start now!
ستدفع الثمن خلال الامتحان النهائي إذا لم تبدأ الآن!
A friendly warning about future consequences.
My stomach is really making me pay the price for that third plate of spicy wings.
معدتي تجعلني أدفع الثمن حقاً بسبب ذلك الصحن الثالث من الأجنحة الحارة.
Using the phrase to joke about overeating.
He lied to her for years, and now he's paying the price of being alone.
لقد كذب عليها لسنوات، والآن يدفع ثمن كونه وحيداً.
Focuses on the emotional toll of bad behavior.
Future generations will pay the price for our lack of action today.
ستدفع الأجيال القادمة الثمن بسبب عدم تحركنا اليوم.
A serious, formal tone regarding global issues.
自我测试
Choose the correct word to complete the phrase.
If you don't wear a coat in this cold, you will ___ the price when you get sick.
The standard collocation is 'pay the price' to mean suffering consequences.
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition.
She is paying the price ___ her honesty in a corrupt office.
We use 'pay the price for [something]' to specify the cause of the consequence.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Pay the Price'
Talking to friends about a hangover or missed sleep.
Man, I'm paying the price for that pizza.
General conversation about life choices.
He's paying the price for his laziness.
Political speeches or news reports.
The nation will pay a heavy price for this policy.
When to use 'Pay the Price'
Health
Skipping sleep or eating junk food.
Finance
Making a risky investment that fails.
Relationships
Losing a friend because of a lie.
Work
Missing a deadline and losing a promotion.
常见问题
10 个问题No, it almost never involves actual money. It refers to metaphorical costs like health, time, or happiness, such as paying the price for not studying.
Generally, no. It is used for negative consequences. You wouldn't say you paid the price for winning a race unless you got injured doing it.
Yes, it is very common in business to describe the results of bad strategy, like paying the price for poor market research.
Pay the bill is literal and involves money. Pay the price is figurative and involves consequences.
Yes, both are correct. Pay a price sounds slightly more general, while pay the price sounds like a specific consequence for a specific action.
No, it is a standard idiom. It is safe to use in both casual and professional settings.
Simply change 'pay' to 'paid'. For example: 'He paid the price for his mistakes last year.'
It means the consequences were very severe or painful, much worse than a normal mistake.
Yes, it is a more old-fashioned version of the same idea, meaning you must finally deal with the results of your fun.
Yes, you can say 'I am paying the price for his mistake,' which means you are suffering because of what someone else did.
相关表达
Face the music
To accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
Reap what you sow
To experience the results of your own past behavior.
Backfire
When a plan has the opposite effect of what was intended.
Come back to haunt you
When a past mistake causes problems for you much later.
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