foot the bill
Pick up tab
To foot the bill is to pay for something, especially on behalf of others or when the cost is substantial: Her parents footed the bill for the wedding.
The phrase often implies covering expenses that aren't necessarily one's own obligation: Taxpayers end up footing the bill for corporate bailouts.
- shell outPay, often unwillingly
- cough upPay reluctantly
- payWages for work
- disbursePay out officially
- ante upContribute required stake
defray · settle up · finance · fork out · pick up the tab · pay the piper · on the house · pony up · square up · deep pockets · expense account · meal ticket · spring for · cover · blow · pay through the nose · out of pocket · sponsorship