foot the bill
idiom
: to pay for something
His parents footed the bill for his college education.
It's a business lunch, so the company is footing the bill.
Examples of foot the bill in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Britain wants the funds spent only on humanitarian causes in Ukraine, in line with a wider European push for Moscow to foot the bill for deaths and destruction triggered by its invasion.
—
Reuters, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025
As far back as the 1980s, the federal government – then led by Ronald Reagan – took steps to tamp down barrier island building and protect taxpayers from footing the bill after disasters.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
One famous story involves Buffett treating fellow billionaire Bill Gates to lunch at McDonalds and offering to foot the bill after pulling coupons out of his pocket.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 14 Dec. 2025
Who Pays for the Wedding While tradition dictates that the bride’s family should foot the bill for wedding festivities (and plenty still do), lots of modern celebrations are hosted and paid for by both families or even by the couple themselves.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foot the bill
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Reuters, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025
As far back as the 1980s, the federal government – then led by Ronald Reagan – took steps to tamp down barrier island building and protect taxpayers from footing the bill after disasters.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
One famous story involves Buffett treating fellow billionaire Bill Gates to lunch at McDonalds and offering to foot the bill after pulling coupons out of his pocket.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 14 Dec. 2025
Who Pays for the Wedding While tradition dictates that the bride’s family should foot the bill for wedding festivities (and plenty still do), lots of modern celebrations are hosted and paid for by both families or even by the couple themselves.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foot the bill
Cite this Entry
“Foot the bill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foot%20the%20bill. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
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