heads will roll

English

Etymology

From the imagery of a head rolling on the ground when a person is decapitated as punishment for a crime.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Phrase

heads will roll

1. (idiomatic) Some people will be fired for incompetence.

   If this project isn't completed on time, heads will roll.

Related terms

• have someone's head
• off with someone's head

 

Translations

some people will be fired for incompetence

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 人頭落地／人头落地 (réntóu luòdì)

• Finnish: päitä putoilee
• French: des têtes vont tomber
• Hungarian: fejek fognak hullani
• Italian: cadranno delle teste
• Polish: polecą głowy
• Russian: полетят головы (poletjat golovy)