shell out

British  

verb

1. informal (adverb) to pay out or hand over (money)

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shell out Idioms  

1. Pay, hand over, as in We had to shell out $1,000 for auto repairs. This expression transfers taking a seed such as a pea or nut out of its pod or shell to taking money out of one's pocket. [Colloquial; c. 1800]

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Etymology

Origin of shell out

C19: from _shell (in the sense: to remove from a pod or (figuratively) a purse)

Example Sentences

Last year, business owners signaled they weren’t willing to shell out more every year to make it happen.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

If you want to make a 20% down payment on a $750,000 home, the recommended percentage to avoid private mortgage insurance, you’d need to shell out $150,000.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

Back in 2022 you only had to shell out £1 for the average box of six supermarket own brand free-range eggs.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

And while AI skills are generally in demand, there are also some employers who don’t want to shell out the high wages needed to attract those types of workers, Janulaitis added.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

I decided not to shell out any of my hard-earned cash on cheap memorabilia...though celebrating with transfat was tempting.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi