shell out

verb

1. informal.
   adverb to pay out or hand over (money)

Word History and Origins

Origin of shell out¹

C19: from shell (in the sense: to remove from a pod or (figuratively) a purse)

Idioms and Phrases

Pay, hand over, as in We had to shell out $1,000 for auto repairs . This expression transfers taking a seed such as a pea or nut out of its pod or shell to taking money out of one's pocket. [ Colloquial ; c. 1800]

Example Sentences

Why would people shell out $500 for an iPhone when flip phones and Blackberries worked just fine?

From The Daily Beast

Fans were still willing to shell out for the product—the company reported a gross profit of $25.5 million.

From The Daily Beast

Both are constrained by the willingness of readers to shell out money for books that may or may not be worth buying.

From The Daily Beast

And if people are going to shell out for an Apple product, they want the real deal, not one that is called “the cheaper option.”

From The Daily Beast

California taxpayers alone will shell out over $1 billion to bring the Common Core to their state.

From The Daily Beast

Old Jackson wouldnt shell out sixpence to save her or anybody else from the gallows.

From Project Gutenberg

Brother Flint will please pass round the hat, and let every Hard-shell shell out.

From Project Gutenberg

If you would have a seat where you can see and hear still more comfortably you must shell out half-a-crown.

From Project Gutenberg

She wondered if she would ever be able to return to the shell out of which the ironic humour of chance had thrust her.

From Project Gutenberg

His chief creditor threatened law proceedings against him if he didn't shell out slick.

From Project Gutenberg