pay up
Britishverb
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.
Murdoch’s Fox network, the smallest of the NFL’s partners, would have to pay up or risk losing its whole franchise to the likes of Amazon and YouTube.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
You’ll need to pay up ahead of time if you’d like to indulge in a measly packet of Biscoff cookies or extra salty pretzels.
From Salon • May 7, 2026
If you wanted to choose the location of your seat or bring a carry-on bag, you had to pay up.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
Having a good contractor on call is now a must-have for companies building power plants, and they are willing to pay up for them.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
“What difference does it make what my name is? You’re still not going to use the phone. And you still have to pay up front for the room.”
From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo
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.
