Negative verb for “it will pay off” [closed]
Negative verb for “it will pay off” [closed]
I am looking for a word like pay off, but with a negative connotation, that would fit in this sentence:
If we don't solve this problem now, it will _____ in the future.
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I don't think the meaning is the negative of it will pay off. It is the negative of "it will continue to a problem in the future."
– Lambie
Aug 30 at 17:57
It will cost us in the future?
– jlevis
Aug 31 at 1:58
4 Answers
4
It will haunt us (or come back to haunt us) in the future.
dictionary.com:
You can use the phrase "come back to bite us". You don't even need "in the future", then, because that is implied.
The meaning of the phrase is that something that has happened or will happen, is or will be a problem in the future. (See this definition in The Free Dictionary).
For your example:
If we don't solve this problem now, it will come back to bite us.
In a more literal example:
If we don't kill this rabid dog now, it will come back to bite us.
It's a single word request.
– ubi hatt
Aug 30 at 16:57
@ubihatt Just think of it as a single word.
– Matt E. Эллен♦
Aug 30 at 17:03
teach me this art, I will use it in my next answer.
– ubi hatt
Aug 30 at 17:19
@ubihatt Does not really matter whether it is literally a single word or just a filler into the gap that makes sense. Did I need to add another tag?
– Eduard
Aug 30 at 17:46
@Eduard if you're happy to accept phrases as well as single words, you can add the tag phrase-requests
– Matt E. Эллен♦
Aug 30 at 17:49
plague (one) with (something) TFD
To frustrate, annoy, inconvenience, or cause trouble for one
repeatedly or continuously. Often used in passive constructions.
As in:
If we don't solve this problem now, it will plague us in the future.
The verb to backfire might not be the prefect fit, but it's still very close to the word you're looking for:
If a plan or project backfires, it has the opposite result to the one that was intended.
Your example:
If we don't solve this problem now, it will backfire in the future.
bite us in the future
– dnagirl
Aug 30 at 16:12