PhrasesHub

The chickens come home to roost

    Definitions

      • consequences of actions catching up
        When someone experiences the negative consequences of their past actions or decisions, especially when they have been harmful or dishonest

      • inevitable outcome
        Refers to the eventual outcome or repercussions of a situation, often implying that one cannot escape the consequences of their actions

    Examples of The chickens come home to roost

    • After years of using toxic chemicals in their factories, environmental groups accused the company of neglecting the health and safety of their workers and surrounding communities. The CEO brushed off these concerns, arguing that profits were more important than any potential harm. However, as the years went by, those same chemicals caused serious health problems in many of the company's former employees. Workers and their families began to speak out, and the company's once-sterling reputation was irreparably damaged. In the end, the chickens came home to roost for the company's short-sighted decision to prioritize profit over people's lives.

      When a person or company ignores the negative consequences of their actions, those consequences will eventually catch up to them. The phrase "the chickens come home to roost" refers to this idea that there is always a price to pay for our choices, even if it takes time for that price to become apparent. In this example, the company's refusal to address the health hazards of their chemicals came back to haunt them in the form of sick workers and a tarnished reputation. The metaphor of chickens coming home to roost highlights the inevitability and finality of these consequences. It suggests that, like chickens coming home to their coop, the issues the company tried to avoid will ultimately be confronted and dealt with.

    • After years of neglecting the environment, the government is facing the consequences of its actions as pollution levels continue to rise and natural disasters become more frequent. The chickens come home to roost.

      This idiom refers to the idea that past actions have consequences, and those consequences must eventually be faced. In this example, the government's failure to address environmental issues has led to adverse effects on the planet, which the government is now having to deal with. Essentially, the chickens (i.e., the problems) have come home to roost (i.e., been brought back to the source where they originated).

    • The country's involvement in endless wars abroad finally came back to haunt them, as the chickens came home to roost in the form of economic hardship and political instability at home.

      This idiom means that the bad decisions or actions you take in the past will eventually catch up to you and have negative consequences. In this example, the country's decision to get involved in multiple foreign wars led to financial strain and political turmoil, as the costs of these conflicts became too high for the government to bear. The "chickens" refer to these negative outcomes, which have returned to the country and brought about unintended consequences.

    • After years of neglect, the old building finally fell into disrepair, and the chickens came home to roost when it collapsed during a storm, endangering nearby residents.

      This use of the idiom refers to the idea that neglecting or ignoring problems over time can eventually lead to serious consequences. In this example, the building was left to deteriorate instead of being properly maintained, and the "chickens" came home to roost when it collapsed during a storm. This unexpected event put nearby residents at risk and highlighted the seriousness of the neglect that had been allowed to continue for too long.

    • The politician's campaign promises, which seemed too good to be true, came back to haunt him as the chickens came home to roost during his first term, as he struggled to deliver on his promises and faced criticism from constituents.

      This example illustrates how overpromising or making empty promises can lead to negative consequences in the future. The politician's promises seemed overly optimistic or unrealistic during the campaign, but they nevertheless encouraged him to win the election. However, as the reality of governing set in, he struggled to live up to these promises, and the "chickens" came home to roost in the form of criticism and disappointment from his constituents. This negative outcome showed that the politician's promises were not as feasible as he had claimed during the campaign.

    • The CEO's aggressive business practices, which had helped his company gain a competitive edge in the past, finally came back to haunt him as the chickens came home to roost in the form of a scandal that threatened the company's reputation and financial stability.

      This example highlights how making risky or questionable decisions in pursuit of short-term gains can lead to negative consequences in the long run. The CEO's aggressive business practices had helped his company gain an advantage over competitors in the past, but they also led to controversy and uncertainty. The "chickens" came home to roost in the form of a scandal that threatened the company's reputation and financial stability, showing that the CEO's short-sighted decisions had caught up with him and led to serious consequences.


    Conclusion

    "The chickens come home to roost" is used to describe when someone faces the negative consequences of their past actions. It can be a warning that one's dishonest or harmful actions will catch up with them, or it can refer to the inevitable outcome of a situation. This idiom serves as a cautionary message about facing the repercussions of one's choices and behavior.

    Origin of "The chickens come home to roost"

    The origin of the idiom "The chickens come home to roost" can be traced back to the farming community. In literal terms, chickens return to their roosts at the end of the day. This idiom is believed to have originated from an old proverb dating back to medieval times, which implies that one's past actions will eventually catch up with them. The phrase has since been used figuratively to convey the idea that the negative consequences of one's actions will come back to haunt them. This idiom serves as a reminder that one cannot escape the effects of their choices and behavior. Its origins in farming and the behavior of chickens add a vivid and relatable imagery to the message it conveys.