Paying & Purchasing: English Vocabulary List

to pay an unreasonably high price for something

"We paid through the nose."

"We had to pay through the nose for those concert tickets because they were in high demand."

used for saying that a cost is paid by a person themselves instead of an organization or fund

"I paid fifty out of pocket."

"The company refused to reimburse him, so he had to cover the travel expenses out of his own pocket."

(particularly of a joke) in a way that causes harm to someone or makes them embarrassed

"He made a joke at my expense."

"The comedian told jokes about the audience members at their expense which made everyone very uncomfortable."

to accept the financial burden or responsibility for a certain project, service, or event, and pay for it

"The company footed the bill for the trip."

"The generous grandfather offered to foot the bill for the entire family wedding celebration last summer."

used to say that someone has to pay for something

"I am on the hook for the rent."

"The co signer is on the hook for the loan if the borrower fails to make payments."

to pay for one's expenses and not need financial support from others

"She paid her own way."

"He worked part-time during college to pay his way through school and avoid taking out student loans."

the price that is presently usual for a product or service

"The going rate for plumbers is high."

"The going rate for plumbers is high and you should expect to pay at least one hundred dollars per hour."

not needing to pay anything upfront or to make a deposit

"You can buy it with nothing down."

"You can buy the furniture with nothing down and pay in monthly instalments instead."

to pay the expense of something, usually instead of someone else

"Let me pick up the tab for dinner."

"My generous uncle offered to pick up the tab for our entire family dinner."

(of two or more people) to pay one's own share of the costs

"We decided to go Dutch on the date."

"Since we are both students with little money let us go Dutch and split the bill equally."

to pay half of the expenses each

"Let us go halves on dinner."

"Since the gift was expensive, my sister and I decided to go halves so neither of us would overspend."

to purchase an item, typically a product or object, that is defective, unsatisfactory, or of little value or use

"I bought a bad lemon."

"He thought he was getting a great deal on the used car, but it turned out to be a lemon that constantly broke down."

the activity of just looking at the goods in the windows of stores without going inside and buying something

"Window shopping is relaxing."

"We spent the afternoon window shopping along the main street."

to try to sell something when the conditions are not favorable

"Don't sell now, it's a rainy day."

"Trying to sell ice cream in winter is like offering your hen for sale on a rainy day."

used to say who has paid for something

"It is at my expense."

"The extravagant party was thrown at his expense, much to everyone's surprise."