pay out

verb

1. to distribute (money); disburse

2. (tr) to release (a rope) gradually, hand over hand

3. (tr) to retaliate against

noun

1. a sum of money paid out

Idioms and Phrases

Distribute money, disburse, as in He paid out the full amount . [Mid-1800s]

Let out a rope by slackening, as in She paid out the rope until it was long enough to tie the canoe onto the car . This nautical expression dates from the late 1700s.

Related Words

• administer 
• allot 
• apportion 
• assign 
• circulate 
• disburse 
• dispense 
• disseminate 
• donate 
• give 
• give away 
• hand out 
• issue 
• present 
• scatter 
• share