Fill the bill

Meaning

The idiom "fill the bill" means to meet or exceed expectations, requirements, or a standard set by someone or something else. It can also mean to completely satisfy or fulfill someone's needs or requests. In modern usage, it is often used in a negative sense to indicate that someone or something has fallen short of what was expected of them.

Usage

• "The food at the restaurant really filled the bill." (Positive meaning)
• "The concert didn't quite fill the bill for me." (Negative meaning)
• "The new employee is great, they really fill the bill in terms of productivity." (Positive meaning)
• "My old car didn't exactly fill the bill when it came to fuel efficiency." (Negative meaning)
• "The movie was quite disappointing, it didn't fill the bill for me." (Negative meaning)

Roots and History

The idiom "fill the bill" has been in use since at least the 18th century. It originates from the practice of paying a bill by filling it up with coins that meet or exceed the amount owed. The term "fill the bill" comes from the idea of filling up the bill completely and paying more than is required. Over time, the idiom has taken on a figurative meaning and is now used to describe situations where someone or something falls short of expectations.

Synonyms in English

• meet expectations
• satisfy requirements
• fulfill a standard
• exceed expectations
• go above and beyond

Synonyms in other languages

• French - remplir le devoir (to fulfill one's duty)
• German - zufrieden machen (to satisfy someone)
• Spanish - cumplir las condiciones (to meet conditions)
• Italian - riuscire a superare (to exceed expectations)
• Russian - задоволить требования квалитета (to meet quality requirements)

Similar Idioms

• feel the pinch

• fool’s paradise

• for a song