Idiom
foot the bill
Meanings
To pay the total cost for something, especially when others also benefit.
To cover the expenses for a project, event, or service (often said about a company or government).
Definition
To foot the bill means to pay the full cost of something, often for a group or on behalf of others.
If you foot the bill, you pay the money that is owed for something such as a meal, event, or repair. It often implies that someone else benefits, but you are the person who pays. The phrase is common when discussing who will cover shared expenses.
Examples
- My uncle offered to foot the bill for dinner.
- The company agreed to foot the bill for the training program.
- I don’t mind organizing the trip, but I can’t foot the bill.
- Taxpayers ended up footing the bill after the project failed.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say "pay the bill" when they mean covering everyone’s costs; "foot the bill" emphasizes paying the whole amount for others too.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a relaxed, friendly chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of what you have done or a difficult situation.