How do you use "Chickens come home to roost" in a sentence?

His chickens finally came home to roost. Those decisions? The chickens are coming home to roost. Eventually, all chickens come home to roost.

Chickens come home to roost

Q: What does "Chickens come home to roost" mean?

Past misdeeds eventually have consequences; karma. When 'chickens come home to roost,' past bad actions catch up with you—consequences finally arrive. Like chickens returning to their coop, problems return to their source.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Past misdeeds eventually have consequences; karma.

过去的错误行为最终会有后果；因果报应。

Las malas acciones del pasado eventualmente tienen consecuencias; karma.

過去の悪行には最終的に報いがある；因果応報。

과거의 잘못은 결국 대가를 치르게 된다; 인과응보.

When 'chickens come home to roost,' past bad actions catch up with you—consequences finally arrive. Like chickens returning to their coop, problems return to their source.

当'chickens come home to roost'（鸡回窝栖息）时，过去的坏行为会追上你——后果终于到来。就像鸡回到鸡舍一样，问题会回到源头。

Cuando 'las gallinas vuelven al gallinero', las malas acciones pasadas te alcanzan—las consecuencias finalmente llegan. Como las gallinas que regresan a su corral, los problemas vuelven a su origen.

「chickens come home to roost」（鶏が巣に帰る）のとき、過去の悪行が追いつく—ついに報いが来る。鶏が小屋に戻るように、問題は源に戻ります。

'닭이 집으로 돌아온다(chickens come home to roost)'는 과거의 나쁜 행동이 결국 자신에게 되돌아온다는 뜻입니다. 닭이 저녁에 닭장으로 돌아오듯, 문제도 결국 그 근원으로 되돌아옵니다.

Examples

His chickens finally came home to roost.
他的报应终于来了
Finalmente le llegó la hora de pagar
ついに彼に報いが来た
마침내 그에게 대가가 돌아왔다.
Those decisions? The chickens are coming home to roost.
那些决定？报应来了
¿Esas decisiones? Las consecuencias están llegando
あの決定？ツケが回ってきている
그 결정들? 이제 대가를 치르고 있다.
Eventually, all chickens come home to roost.
最终，所有的坏事都会有报应
Al final, todo se paga
結局、すべては自分に返ってくる
결국 모든 것은 자신에게 돌아온다.

Pronunciation

/ˈtʃɪkɪnz kʌm həʊm tə ruːst/

Usage Guide

Context: consequences, karma, comeuppance

Tone: wise, sometimes satisfied

✓ Do Say

Chickens come home to roost
自食恶果
Las cosas vuelven a su dueño
因果応報だ
자업자득이다
His chickens came home
他自食恶果了
Le volvió todo de vuelta
彼にツケが回ってきた
그에게 벌이 돌아왔다

Common Mistakes

About consequences, not actual chickens

Origin & History

The proverb dates from the 14th century. Chickens reliably return to roost at night—bad deeds similarly return to affect their perpetrator.

Etymology: Chickens returning to roost = consequences returning

First recorded: 14th century

Cultural Context

Era: 14th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Universal proverb

Regional notes: English-language universal.

Variations

Chickens come home to roostHis chickens came home