pay+the+piper
21they that dance must pay the fiddler — Cf. he who pays the piper calls the tune, where the emphasis is reversed. To pay the piper (fiddler, etc.) means ‘to bear the cost (of an enterprise)’. The proverb is now predominantly found in US use. 1638 J. TAYLOR Taylor’s Feast in Works… …
22he\ who\ dances\ must\ pay\ the\ fiddler — proverb See: pay the piper …
23The Pied Piper of Hamelin — is a legend about the abduction of many children from the town of Hamelin ( Hameln ), Germany. Famous versions of the legend are given by the Brothers Grimm and, in English, by Robert Browning.PlotIn 1284, while the town of Hamelin was suffering… …
24Pay — Pay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Paid}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Paying}.] [OE. paien, F. payer, fr. L. pacare to pacify, appease, fr. pax, pacis, peace. See {Peace}.] 1. To satisfy, or content; specifically, to satisfy (another person) for service rendered,… …
25piper — [pī′pər] n. [ME pipere < OE] a person who plays on a pipe; esp., a bagpiper pay the piper to pay for one s pleasures or bear the consequences of one s actions …
26he who pays the piper calls the tune — Reversing the emphasis of they that dance must pay the fiddler. 1895 Daily News 18 Dec. 9 Londoners had paid the piper, and should choose the tune. 1910 Spectator 22 Oct. 643 Until British electors know that the dollars have been returned they… …
27Piper — Pip er, n. 1. (Mus.) One who plays on a pipe, or the like, esp. on a bagpipe. The hereditary piper and his sons. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) (a) A common European gurnard ({Trigla lyra}), having a large head, with prominent nasal… …
28he who pays the piper calls the tune — ► he who pays the piper calls the tune proverb the person providing the money for something has the right to determine how it s spent. Main Entry: ↑pay …
29piper — O.E. pipere, agent noun from PIPE (Cf. pipe). As a kind of fish, from c.1600. Expression pay the piper recorded from 1680s …
30piper — /puy peuhr/, n. 1. a person who plays on a pipe. 2. a bagpiper. 3. pay the piper, a. to pay the cost of something. b. to bear the unfavorable consequences of one s actions or pleasures: Someday he ll have to pay the piper for all that gambling.… …
