die Zeche zahlen
to bear the (unpleasant) consequences; to foot the bill, often for what others caused
Origin
'Zeche' originally meant 'order, shared levy for a joint undertaking' and later denoted the shared bill at the inn. The literal phrase 'die Zeche zahlen' (to settle the tavern bill) is attested since the 16th century and was later used figuratively.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Infinitive construction 'ohne ... zu' / 'anstatt ... zu' (without / instead of doing)Infinitivkonstruktion 'ohne ... zu' / 'anstatt ... zu'
- sowie (as well as, and)sowie (Konjunktion)
- Temporal prepositions (elevated): binnen, innerhalb, außerhalbTemporale Präpositionen (gehoben): binnen, innerhalb, außerhalb
- beziehungsweise / bzw. (respectively, or)beziehungsweise (bzw.)
Examples
Die Banken haben spekuliert, und am mussten die die Zeche .
The banks speculated, and in the end the taxpayers had to foot the bill.