What does "pay" mean?

In addition to the idioms beginning with pay, also see (pay the piper) call the tune; crime does not pay; devil to pay; hell to pay; lip service, pay; rob Peter to pay Paul; you get what you pay for.

See pay in WNW Idioms

in the pay of

employed and paid by

pay as you go

to pay expenses as they arise

pay back

to repay
to retaliate upon

pay down

to pay in cash
to pay (part of the purchase price) at the time of purchase: used in installment buying

pay for

to suffer or undergo punishment because of
to atone or make amends for

pay off

to pay all that is owed on (a debt, etc.) or to (a person, as in discharging from employment)
to take revenge on (a wrongdoer) or for (a wrong done)
to yield full recompense or return, for either good or evil
Informal to bring about a desired result; succeed
Naut. to swing or allow to swing away from the wind: said of the bow of a vessel

pay someone's way

to pay someone's share of the expenses

pay out

to give out (money, etc.); expend
to let out (a rope, cable, etc.) gradually

pay up

to pay in full or on time

with pay

with wages or salary included a two-week vacation with pay

See pay in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms

pay (one's) dues

To earn a given right or position through hard work, long-term experience, or suffering: She paid her dues in small-town theaters before being cast in a Broadway play.

pay (one's) way

To contribute one's own share; pay for oneself.

pay the piper

To bear the consequences of something.

pay through the nose

Informal

To pay excessively.

Learn more about pay

» pay definition

» pay synonyms

» PAY abbreviations & acronyms

» pay business definition