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by anguilla on June 20th, 2009
It's really "have the Devil to pay."
"Having the Devil to pay" refers to impending trouble or other bad consequences following from one's actions.
"Having the Devil to pay" alludes to pacts with the Devil in which hapless individuals pay for their wishes or misdeeds by forfeiting their soul.
This allusion, and the everyday usage meaning 'I am in trouble now, I will have to pay for this later', date from the 18th century.
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by YoYoYo on February 18th, 2009
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