The Chickens Come Home to Roost

What Does "The Chickens Come Home to Roost" Mean?

"The chickens come home to roost" is an English idiom suggesting that past actions or decisions, whether good or bad, eventually have consequences or repercussions.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "the chickens come home to roost" used in a sentence:

• He ignored the environmental impact of his business for years, and now the chickens have come home to roost in the form of environmental regulations and fines.
• The company's unethical practices have caused the chickens to come home to roost, damaging their reputation and customer trust.
• When you make wise investments early in life, you can enjoy the benefits when the chickens come home to roost during retirement.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "The Chickens Come Home to Roost" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "the chickens come home to roost" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions