pay the fiddler

Verb

idiomatic

(idiomatic) To face the consequences of one's actions. / (idiomatic) To contribute in order to participate.

Japanese Meaning

自分の行動の結果に直面する / 参加や関与するために必要な負担や貢献をする

If he keeps cutting corners, sooner or later he'll have to pay the fiddler.

もし彼が手を抜き続ければ、遅かれ早かれ自分の行為の報いを受けることになるだろう。

Sense（1）

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

Sense（2）

(idiomatic) To contribute in order to participate.

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

pays the fiddler

（ present singular third-person ）

paying the fiddler

（ participle present ）

paid the fiddler

（ participle past ）

paid the fiddler

（ past ）