foot the bill

Idioms  

1. Pay the bill, settle the accounts, as in The bride's father was resigned to footing the bill for the wedding. This expression uses foot in the sense of “add up and put the total at the foot, or bottom, of an account.” [Colloquial; early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

foot the bill

The report does not include those costs in its estimates, saying it is not yet clear if all the bases will be rebuilt, or who will foot the bill.

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

While I understand the urge to request money, foot the bill and learn from this experience.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

There is also the long-running debate over whether U.K. taxpayers should foot the bill for the Sussexes’ security, a privilege that ended—much to Harry’s displeasure—after the couple moved across the Atlantic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Kennedy told The Times in 2023 that the school came to him after it had trouble finding another wealthy booster to foot the bill.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

He had decided to assemble a research team and explore the area in more detail the next year, and persuaded the National Geographic Society to foot the bill.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann