pick up the tab/bill/check
idiom
: to pay the money that is owed for something
The company picked up the entire tab for my trip.
They offered to pick up the check for dinner.
Examples of pick up the tab/bill/check in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Attorneys general in Colorado, 17 other states and Washington, D.C., are challenging cuts to the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, saying the Trump administration’s massive restructuring has destroyed life-saving programs and left states to pick up the bill for mounting health crises.
—
Rebecca Boone, Denver Post, 5 May 2025
Currently there has been no action from the state Senate to pick up the bill.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
That’s raising the prospect that state residents will need to pick up the bill for more funds.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
At the same time, Pritzker reiterated that the state can’t pick up the bill for billions of dollars lost in potential overall cuts to federal funding.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Future generations pick up the bill If taxes on Social Security benefits are eliminated, those at the top of the household income distribution would see the largest tax reductions, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
When the Torres arrived to pick up the check Thursday a city employee challenged her on her appearance compared to the age in the application.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2024
As Trump has pointed out in his criticisms of NATO members’ military spending, unconditional reassurance can encourage free-riding by allies, who may assume that the United States will always pick up the bill for collective defense.
—Michael O’Hanlon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
Takata had been responsible for the cost of replacing the defective inflaters — a task handled by local car dealerships — but the bankruptcy filing left automakers to pick up the bill.
—Neal E. Boudette, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
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Rebecca Boone, Denver Post, 5 May 2025
Currently there has been no action from the state Senate to pick up the bill.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
That’s raising the prospect that state residents will need to pick up the bill for more funds.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
At the same time, Pritzker reiterated that the state can’t pick up the bill for billions of dollars lost in potential overall cuts to federal funding.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Future generations pick up the bill If taxes on Social Security benefits are eliminated, those at the top of the household income distribution would see the largest tax reductions, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
When the Torres arrived to pick up the check Thursday a city employee challenged her on her appearance compared to the age in the application.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2024
As Trump has pointed out in his criticisms of NATO members’ military spending, unconditional reassurance can encourage free-riding by allies, who may assume that the United States will always pick up the bill for collective defense.
—Michael O’Hanlon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
Takata had been responsible for the cost of replacing the defective inflaters — a task handled by local car dealerships — but the bankruptcy filing left automakers to pick up the bill.
—Neal E. Boudette, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Pick up the tab/bill/check.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20up%20the%20tab%2Fbill%2Fcheck. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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