Idiom
foot the bill
Meanings
To pay the full cost of something.
To cover expenses on behalf of others or for a project, often as the responsible party.
Definition
To foot the bill means to pay for something, often an expensive cost for a group or event.
If you foot the bill, you pay the total cost of something. It is often used when one person or organization pays for everyone, or pays a large unexpected expense. The phrase can imply responsibility for the payment, sometimes reluctantly.
Examples
- My uncle offered to foot the bill for our dinner.
- The company will foot the bill for the training course.
- I can’t keep footing the bill for everyone’s snacks.
- Taxpayers often end up footing the bill for repairs after storms.
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 a quick update or confirm plans.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious 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 a quick update or confirm plans.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something important that you were responsibl…
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a friendly, informal chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of your actions or a difficult situation.