Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pick up the tab

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.93 in modern English

Syllables: pick- up the tab
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To accept a bill and pay it, especially at a bar or restaurant.

American usage; Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"When the bill came to just 33,000 forints, I did something very out of character: I picked up the tab. It blew the budget for the day, but felt great."
"Meanwhile, the taxpayer picked up the tab for over 50% of track and train costs at Northern, Merseyrail and the Transport for Wales rail operation."
"A stranger picked up the tab for the coffee order of the next customer in the drive-through line at a Tim Hortons coffeehouse in Winnipeg, Canada. And that customer picked up the tab of the person behind him."

Usage

American usage
Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

picks up the tab (present, singular) picking up the tab (participle, present) picked up the tab (participle, past) picked up the tab (past)

Questions

What does pick up the tab mean?: To accept a bill and pay it, especially at a bar or restaurant.

How to pronounce pick up the tab

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pick up the tab”.
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