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Idioms

pick up the tab | pick up the bill

This page is about the idiom pick up the tab | pick up the bill

INFORMAL

Meaning

If you pick up the tab, or pick up the bill, you pay for yourself and your friends in a restaurant or a bar.

For example

  • When people go out to celebrate a birthday in Thailand, whoever's having the birthday picks up the tab.

  • In general in Asia, the person with the highest status picks up the bill in a restaurant.

Quick Quiz

Larry is a very generous guy and he

a. never picks up the tab

b. always picks up the tab

c. occasionally picks up the tab
a) never picks up the tab b) always picks up the tab c) occasionally picks up the tab
pick up the tab | pick up the bill

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey