Definition & Meaning of "come home to roost"

to come home to roost

PHRASE

to experience the negative consequences or effects of one's past actions or decisions

to [come] (home|back) to roost definition and meaning

Idiom

Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "come home to roost" and when to use it?

The phrase "come home to roost" has its origin in the behavior of chickens, which return to their roosts or coops at night. In an idiomatic sense, it is used to describe the consequences of one's actions catching up with them, often with a negative implication that mistakes or misdeeds will have repercussions in the future.

Curses, like chickens, come home to roost

curses, like chickens, come home to roost

SENTENCE

used to suggest that the negative energy or harm one puts out into the world can return to them in some form

Proverb

Example

She thought she could avoid responsibility, but her past actions came back to roost, affecting her personal and professional life.

He ignored the warning signs and now his poor health habits are coming home to roost.

Politicians who promise more than they can deliver will find that their unfulfilled pledges come home to roost in the form of disappointed constituents.

His reckless behavior finally came home to roost when he got arrested for drunk driving.

Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.