hell to pay

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

Bernadette Spofforth, 55, from Chester was arrested on 8 August after reposting the fake name, commenting that if it were true there would be "hell to pay".

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2024

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

For the Astros, there would be hell to pay.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2020

He rubbed his hand across his free and muttered to himself, “There’s going to be hell to pay now.”

From "Mississippi Trial, 1955" by Chris Crowe