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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Grieving families then sue for millions, often leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025 Taxpayers are footing the bill for the nicer quarters on Flagler Street, and that tab could be higher than expected. Douglas Hanks november 10, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025 While some governments have stepped in to foot the bill, others have not done so, with employees in Italy and Portugal working unpaid as the gridlock in Washington drags on. Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 9 Nov. 2025 Voter anger over the cost of living is hurtling forward into next year’s midterm elections, when pivotal contests will be decided by communities that are home to fast-rising electric bills or fights over who’s footing the bill to power Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for foot the bill

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Cite this Entry

“Foot the bill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foot%20the%20bill. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.

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