balance the books

1. 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]

2. 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

Successive governments have borrowed dollars or printed money rather than cutting spending to balance the books and narrow budget gaps.

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He said: "To balance the books, we're proposing some modest increases in some taxes and duties, combined with some savings through reductions in expenditure."

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Forth Valley College, like many others in Scotland, is struggling to balance the books.

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Shropshire Council is expected to declare a "financial emergency" next week at a cabinet meeting as it struggles to balance the books.

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The chancellor will have to balance the books, produce a set of policies that will pass her backbenchers and also promote reforming policies that help jump start sluggish growth.

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