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.
One unresolved question is who will foot the bill for safety costs. Neal Riley, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026 As things stand, disagreement remains over who, exactly, should foot the bill. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026 The county is contributing $150 million in infrastructure needs and roadway improvements, while the Texans and Howard Hughes will foot the bill for the rest of the project’s costs. Jonathan M. Alexander, Houston Chronicle, 25 Feb. 2026 Brands don’t typically operate their own factories, which adds another frisson to the debate over who foots the bill. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foot the bill

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foot the bill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foot%20the%20bill. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster