pay for one's whistle

present singular third person pays for one's whistle · participle present paying for one's whistle · participle past paid for one's whistle · past paid for one's whistle

1. datedTo pay dearly for one's caprice.

   […] the ship may be on shore before the leader of the band can be convinced how dearly he has "paid for his whistle."

   1836, William Nugent Glascock, The Naval Service, page 239

   1 more example

   He felt mightily experienced at this time, and realized, as he thought, quite clearly, the price he had paid for his whistle. He had had his lesson, so he told himself, and had paid for it, […]

   1891, David Christie Murray, Henry Herman, He Fell Among Thieves, page 30