balance the books
Idioms-
Add up the debits and credits of an account and determine the difference; also, bring the two sides into equilibrium. For example, It's Joe's job to balance the books each quarter . [Late 1500s]
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Settle an account by paying what is due, as in We can't balance the books till your last check clears . [Early 1700s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two years ago, when they reached the Champions League, they had to sell Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42.5m to balance the books.
From BBC
It is also withdrawing vacant job posts in areas like IT, finance and HR as part of a plan to save £9m, but is still asking the government for £71.9m to balance the books.
From BBC
The new owner and CEO of Libéma, Dirk Lips, says he plans to invest £10m over the next two years, hoping to balance the books of spending on new enclosures, new animals and more marketing by bringing in more people.
From BBC
There were protests as the government introduced austerity measures to try to balance the books.
From BBC
The report said the number of places offered to Scottish students was "limited by universities' need to balance the books" by accepting fee-paying UK and international students.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
