fill the bill

USAGE SUMMARY

'fill the bill' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that does a job well or satisfies a particular purpose. For example, you could say "This proposal seems to fill the bill for our needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

These two designers certainly fill the bill.

The New York Times - Arts

Usually, banana bread would fill the bill.

The New York Times - Food

SUSY's seem to fill the bill.

The New York Times - Science

She seemed to fill the bill.

The New Yorker

Mere documentation will not fill the bill.

The New York Times - Arts

Any would technically fill the bill.

The New York Times - Food

All fill the bill on all three counts.

The New York Times

Mr. Bush just does not fill the bill, Mr. Appleby thinks.

The New York Times

Sacred sculptures arranged in certain ways could fill the bill, as could architectural designs.

The New York Times - Arts

At $40 billion and counting, the space station would probably fill the bill.

The New York Times

Oct. 13: To counter the October chill A flannel shirt would fill the bill.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fill the bill" when you want to convey that something is perfectly suitable or meets all the necessary requirements for a specific task or situation. For instance, "This new software should "fill the bill" for our data analysis needs."

Common error

Avoid using "fill the bill" when something only partially meets the requirements or is just an approximation. The phrase implies a complete and satisfactory match, not a near miss.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic phrase "fill the bill" functions as a predicate within a sentence, indicating that something is suitable or meets the necessary requirements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common way to express satisfaction of a need or purpose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiomatic phrase "fill the bill" is a common and accepted way to express that something is perfectly suitable or meets the necessary requirements. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. It's appropriate for various contexts, from news articles to everyday conversations. While versatile, ensure that you are using the phrase to imply a complete and satisfactory match, as it suggests a perfect fit for the intended purpose. Alternatives like "meet the requirements" or "suffice" may be more fitting in highly formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meet the requirements

This alternative directly addresses whether something satisfies specific criteria.

fit the purpose

Focuses on the suitability of something for a particular function.

suffice

Implies that something is adequate or enough to meet a need.

measure up

Suggests that something meets a certain standard or expectation.

be suitable

Indicates general appropriateness for a given situation.

be adequate

Highlights that something is sufficient or satisfactory.

do the trick

An informal way of saying something solves a problem or achieves a goal.

serve its purpose

Emphasizes the effective fulfillment of an intended function.

come up to scratch

This idiomatic alternative means to meet the required standard.

cut the mustard

This idiomatic alternative means to succeed or come up to expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "fill the bill" in a sentence?

You can use "fill the bill" to indicate that something is suitable or meets the requirements for a particular purpose. For example: "This candidate seems to "meet the requirements" and should "fill the bill" perfectly."

What are some alternatives to "fill the bill"?

Alternatives to "fill the bill" include phrases like "fit the purpose", "suffice", or "measure up" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "fill the bill" in formal or informal writing?

"Fill the bill" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. While it's an idiom, it's commonly understood and not overly casual. More formal alternatives might include "meet the requirements" or "be adequate".

What does it mean when something "fills the bill"?

When something "fills the bill", it means that it is exactly what is needed or wanted in a particular situation. It effectively "fit the purpose" or satisfies the necessary criteria.