dollar for dollar

USAGE SUMMARY

"dollar for dollar" is a phrase commonly used in written English and it has the same meaning whether written or spoken.
You can use it in a variety of contexts; for example, "This investment will pay off dollar for dollar."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Some reduce it dollar for dollar.

The New York Times

Credits reduce taxes dollar for dollar.

The New York Times

Credits offset taxes dollar for dollar.

The New York Times

It might not offset fiscal expansion dollar for dollar.

The Economist

"Dollar for dollar is the plan," Mr. Boehner told reporters.

The New York Times

But dollar for dollar, these Rangers are the worst.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

This reduces paperwork and the sheer expense of dollar-for dollar coverage.

Forbes

The credits offer only a dollar-for-dollar reduction.

The New York Times

Contrary to the goal of policymakers, I find that tax-based aid crowds out institutional aid roughly dollar-for-dollar.

Economics of Education Review

The tax will start as a dollar-for-dollar penalty, just as it is now.

The New York Times - Sports

But teams over the cap would also have to pay the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dollar for dollar" to clearly communicate a direct, one-to-one correspondence or matching of value, especially in financial or economic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "dollar for dollar" when the relationship is not strictly one-to-one; for proportional but unequal matches, use terms like "partial match" or "percentage-based".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dollar for dollar" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or adjectives to describe the extent or nature of a match, offset, or comparison. Ludwig AI confirms its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

33%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dollar for dollar" is a common idiom used to describe a direct, one-to-one correspondence, particularly in financial matters. Ludwig AI validates its wide usage across news, academic, and business contexts. It's grammatically sound and serves to emphasize an equivalent relationship between two values. When writing, ensure you're describing a true one-to-one match and consider alternatives like "in equal measure" or "equivalent value" if the relationship is proportional but not equal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in equal measure

Emphasizes equality in amount or degree.

corresponding amount

Highlights the direct relationship between quantities.

equivalent value

Highlights the equal worth or price.

direct offset

Focuses on the cancellation of one thing by another of equal value.

matching contribution

Focuses on the act of providing an equal amount to another's contribution.

fully reimbursed

Indicates complete repayment of an amount.

on a par

Indicates that something is of the same level or standard.

equal footing

Suggests a level playing field or equitable situation.

quid pro quo

Suggests an exchange where something is given or received for something else.

tit for tat

Implies retaliation in kind, often in a negative context.

FAQs

How can I use "dollar for dollar" in a sentence?

You can use "dollar for dollar" to describe a direct matching of funds or values, such as, "The charity will match your donation "dollar for dollar"".

What is an alternative to saying "dollar for dollar"?

Alternatives include "in equal measure", "equivalent value", or "matching contribution", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "dollar for dollar"?

Yes, "dollar for dollar" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a direct, one-to-one correspondence or matching of value.

When should I use "dollar for dollar" instead of "proportional"?

Use "dollar for dollar" when the match is exactly one-to-one. If the match is a percentage or other fraction of the original amount, use "proportional" or specify the percentage instead.