Meaning

2 senses

  1. (idiomatic)To face the consequences of one's actions.

    The three-day party had been a lot of fun, but now it was time to pay the fiddler.

  2. (idiomatic)To contribute in order to participate.

    If you want to dance, you’ve got to pay the fiddler

Examples

1 sentences

  1. They that dance must pay the fiddler.

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Forms

pays the fiddler, paying the fiddler, paid the fiddler, paid the fiddler
Base formpay the fiddler · to pay the fiddler
3rd person singularpays the fiddler
Present participlepaying the fiddler
Past simplepaid the fiddler
Past participlepaid the fiddler

irregular · Lesson

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, theypay the fiddler
he, she, itpays the fiddler

Past simpleLesson

all personspaid the fiddler

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, theyhave paid the fiddler
he, she, ithas paid the fiddler

Future simple (will)Lesson

all personswill pay the fiddler

Synonyms

1 synonyms
pay the piper

Lessons for this word

3 lessons

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
pawnshopB2payA1payablepaybackpaycheck
pay the fiddler — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto