pay the piper
To pay expenses for something, and thus be in a position to be in control.
Those that pay the piper must command the tune.
piper
UK /ˈpaɪ.pə/ US /ˈpaɪ.pɚ/
noun 7name 5
Collocations
3ADJ.
picked
VERB + PIPER
pay, pays
PIPER + NOUN
aero, airplane, bill, cherokee, commander, pa-28, peck
Definitions
noun
1
A musician who plays a pipe.
2
A bagpiper.
At Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley, the sounding of train horns was followed by a lone piper playing When the Battle's Over.
3
A baby pigeon.
4
A common European gurnard (Trigla lyra), having a large head, with prominent nasal projection, and with large, sharp, opercular spines.
5
A sea urchin (Cidaris cidaris) with very long spines, native to the American and European coasts.
noun
1
Archaic form of pepper.
name
1
A surname originating as an occupation.
2
A female given name transferred from the surname, used since the mid-twentieth century, first by the American actress Piper Laurie.
3
An American aviation manufacturer, Piper Aircraft Inc, named after early owner William T. Piper.
That airplane would sell for $1.5 million or more if Cessna or Piper or Aero Commander were building it today
4
A place in the United States:
5
A place in the United States:
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — someone who plays the bagpipe
- bagpiper
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
who pays the piper calls the tune
The individual or entity providing financial resources or sponsorship for an endeavor retains the authority to dictate its execution, direction, or outcome.
he who pays the piper calls the tune
Alternative form of who pays the piper calls the tune.
whoever pays the piper calls the tune
Alternative form of who pays the piper calls the tune.
Example Bank
601
At Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley, the sounding of train horns was followed by a lone piper playing When the Battle's Over.
Wiktionary02
That airplane would sell for $1.5 million or more if Cessna or Piper or Aero Commander were building it today
Wiktionary03
Replacing side windows on a Beech or Cessna or Piper airplane is an awful job
Wiktionary04
He who pays the piper calls the tune.
Tatoeba · #1855605
So it's finally time to pay the piper.
Tatoeba · #32756006
He who pays the piper, calls the tune.
Tatoeba · #2983312Usage Notes
i Register
In some senses, piper is marked as archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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