pick up the tab
idiom
US, informal
: to pay a bill (such as for a meal or drinks at a bar)
She offered to pick up the tab for the meal.
Examples of pick up the tab in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After Bowser’s answer, however, Brennan questioned whether local and national taxpayers would be forced to pick up the tab for these migrants.
—
Lindsay Kornick, Fox News, 18 July 2022
Metroparks will seek other sources, such as donations, for the property, but will pick up the tab for any remaining costs, according to agenda notes from the district’s September meeting.
—Robert Higgs, cleveland, 31 Oct. 2022
But like many emergency surgeons, Haller shuns most health insurance contracts and puts the onus on patients to pick up the tab.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 29 Apr. 2022
Local, county and nonprofit hospitals typically then pick up the tab for these patients.
—Michael Taylor, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Sep. 2021
Keep the conversation going and provide a window of opportunity for the other person to pick up the tab.
—Taryn Bushrod, Essence, 5 Aug. 2021
Kerwin Olson, executive director of consumer advocate group Citizens Action Coalition, said utility customers should not be expected to pick up the tab for replacement power when a plant goes offline.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Nov. 2022
In hopes to boost dinner-hour traffic downtown, Orlando officials are planning to pick up the tab on some parking expenses.
—Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency is demanding the rail company responsible clean contaminated water and soil, and pick up the tab on all cleanup expenses.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 21 Feb. 2023
Lindsay Kornick, Fox News, 18 July 2022
Metroparks will seek other sources, such as donations, for the property, but will pick up the tab for any remaining costs, according to agenda notes from the district’s September meeting.
—Robert Higgs, cleveland, 31 Oct. 2022
But like many emergency surgeons, Haller shuns most health insurance contracts and puts the onus on patients to pick up the tab.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 29 Apr. 2022
Local, county and nonprofit hospitals typically then pick up the tab for these patients.
—Michael Taylor, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Sep. 2021
Keep the conversation going and provide a window of opportunity for the other person to pick up the tab.
—Taryn Bushrod, Essence, 5 Aug. 2021
Kerwin Olson, executive director of consumer advocate group Citizens Action Coalition, said utility customers should not be expected to pick up the tab for replacement power when a plant goes offline.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Nov. 2022
In hopes to boost dinner-hour traffic downtown, Orlando officials are planning to pick up the tab on some parking expenses.
—Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency is demanding the rail company responsible clean contaminated water and soil, and pick up the tab on all cleanup expenses.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 21 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pick up the tab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pick up the tab
Cite this Entry
“Pick up the tab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20up%20the%20tab. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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