Foot the bill

Meaning

"Foot the bill" means to pay for something, usually a large amount of money, often without being asked to do so or expecting reimbursement. It can also mean to take responsibility for an action or decision, or to be held accountable for one's mistakes.

Usage

• "I offered to foot the bill for the dinner party, but my guests insisted on splitting the cost."
• "The CEO announced that he would be footing the bill for all employee travel expenses indefinitely."
• "When the customer refused to pay for the damages, the store manager had to foot the bill."
• "I made a mistake and I'm going to have to foot the bill for the consequences."
• "The government promised to foot the bill for all healthcare expenses for its citizens."

Roots and History

The exact origin of this idiom is uncertain, but it is believed to have been used in earlier times as a way of indicating who was responsible for paying for something. It may have originally referred to someone who was designated as the "bill-footer" or the person who paid the bills. Over time, the meaning of the idiom evolved to include more figurative uses, such as taking responsibility for one's actions or decisions.

Synonyms in English

• Take responsibility for something
• Be accountable for something
• Pay for something without being asked
• Take ownership of a mistake
• Bear the consequences of an action

Synonyms in other languages

• Responsabilidad (Spanish)
• Verantwortung (German)
• Obligation (French)
• Аккумуляторная палата (Russian)
• 責任性 (Japanese)

Similar Idioms

• face to face

• set in ways

• third wheel or fifth wheel