How do you use "Foot the bill" in a sentence?

My parents footed the bill for the wedding. Who's going to foot the bill for this mess? The insurance company footed the bill.

Foot the bill

Q: What does "Foot the bill" mean?

To pay for something, especially the total cost To take responsibility for paying, especially a significant amount. When you 'foot the bill,' you're covering the entire cost, often for others.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To pay for something, especially the total cost

买单，尤其是支付全部费用

Pagar algo, especialmente el coste total

費用を負担する、特に全額を支払う

비용을 부담하다, 특히 전액을 지불하다

To take responsibility for paying, especially a significant amount. When you 'foot the bill,' you're covering the entire cost, often for others.

承担支付责任，尤其是大笔金额。当你'foot the bill'时，你在支付全部费用，通常是替别人付。

Asumir la responsabilidad de pagar, especialmente una cantidad importante. Cuando haces 'foot the bill', estás cubriendo el coste total, a menudo por otros.

特に大きな金額の支払いの責任を負うこと。「foot the bill」は、多くの場合他の人の分も含めて、全額を負担することを意味する。

특히 큰 금액의 지불 책임을 지는 것. 'foot the bill'은 종종 다른 사람들을 위해 전체 비용을 부담하는 것을 의미한다.

Examples

My parents footed the bill for the wedding.
我父母支付了婚礼的全部费用
Mis padres pagaron toda la boda
両親が結婚式の費用を全額負担した
부모님이 결혼식 비용을 전액 부담했다.
Who's going to foot the bill for this mess?
谁来为这个烂摊子买单？
¿Quién va a pagar este desastre?
この失敗の費用は誰が払うの？
이 엉망진창의 비용은 누가 낼 거야?
The insurance company footed the bill.
保险公司承担了费用
La compañía de seguros pagó la factura
保険会社が費用を負担した
보험 회사가 비용을 부담했다.

Pronunciation

/fʊt ðə bɪl/

Usage Guide

Context: payment, responsibility, expenses

Tone: matter-of-fact, sometimes reluctant

✓ Do Say

Foot the bill
买单
Pagar la cuenta
費用を負担する
비용을 부담하다
Footed the bill
买了单
Pagó la cuenta
費用を負担した
비용을 부담했다

✗ Don't Say

Very common expression
非常常见的表达
Expresión muy común
非常に一般的な表現
매우 흔한 표현

Common Mistakes

None—universally understood

Origin & History

From 18th century accounting where totals were written at the foot (bottom) of a bill. 'Footing' the bill meant adding up the total—and by extension, paying it.

Etymology: From writing totals at the foot of a bill

First recorded: 18th century

Cultural Context

Era: 18th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common in financial discussions

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Foot the billFooted the bill