paying the deficit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "paying the deficit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing financial matters, particularly in the context of addressing or settling a budget shortfall or negative balance. Example: "The government is focused on paying the deficit to ensure fiscal responsibility and economic stability."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Every spare penny they insisted should go towards re-paying the deficit.

Independent

At the end of each year they would ask for extra money from the city Parliament, which would grind its teeth and pay the deficit.

The New York Times - Arts

The company quickly became a laughingstock as jokes made the rounds of the Internet: Q: Know how the Republicans can cut taxes and pay the deficit at the same time?

The New York Times - Tech

But barges and railroads, which have no such trust funds, continued to pay the deficit tax, even as the federal budget moved into the black in 1999.

Forbes

They'll have to pay the deficit levy, and they won't be getting more payrises.

Vice

According to our respondents, in previous years the hospital would spend beyond its budgetary limits and the Ministry of Finance would pay the deficits.

BMC Health Services Research

The billions of dollars raised by such a tax could help pay down the deficit, pay for investments in the clean energy economy, or be rebated directly to every American.

The Guardian - Opinion

Were we paying down the deficit?

The Guardian - Opinion

"I want these difficult economic times to achieve more than just paying down the deficit and encouraging growth," he said.

The Guardian

The coalition was once bound together by affinity, with the two parties discovering they agreed on a good deal, including school reform, localism and paying off the deficit.

The Economist

Sturgeon, the Green party's Natalie Bennett and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood repeatedly called for a slowdown in paying off the deficit.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about economic policy, use "paying the deficit" to clearly communicate the goal of reducing the government's debt, ensuring your audience understands the intended fiscal responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "paying the deficit" when you actually mean reducing the overall national debt. The deficit is the annual shortfall, while the debt is the accumulation of deficits over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paying the deficit" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the action of reducing or eliminating a financial shortfall. Although Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in English, the lack of examples suggests it may be less common in certain contexts.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "paying the deficit" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression that signifies the action of reducing or eliminating a financial shortfall. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, though examples are currently scarce. While semantically clear, variations like "reducing the deficit" or "decreasing the deficit" may offer subtle differences in emphasis. The phrase maintains a neutral register, appropriate for financial discussions, and primarily serves to communicate a commitment to fiscal responsibility and economic stability. It is crucial to differentiate between the deficit (annual shortfall) and the overall national debt when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reducing the deficit

This alternative focuses on the act of reduction rather than complete payment.

decreasing the deficit

This option uses a synonym for 'reducing', maintaining a similar level of directness.

lowering the deficit

Emphasizes bringing the deficit to a lower level.

tackling the deficit

This suggests addressing the deficit as a problem to be solved.

addressing the deficit

Focuses on dealing with the issue of the deficit.

mitigating the deficit

Suggests lessening the impact or severity of the deficit.

eradicating the deficit

This alternative implies complete elimination of the deficit.

eliminating the deficit

Similar to eradicating, but slightly less forceful.

deficit reduction

This is a noun phrase referring to the process of reducing the deficit.

deficit management

Implies a broader approach to handling and controlling the deficit over time.

FAQs

How can I use "paying the deficit" in a sentence?

You can use "paying the deficit" to describe actions taken to reduce a financial shortfall, such as: "The government aims to increase taxes to focus on "paying the deficit"."

What's a simpler way to say "paying the deficit"?

Alternatives include "reducing the deficit", "decreasing the deficit", or "lowering the deficit", all of which convey a similar meaning of diminishing a financial shortfall.

Is it correct to say "paying down the deficit" instead of "paying the deficit"?

"Paying down the deficit" is a common and acceptable variant, emphasizing the gradual reduction of the deficit over time. Both phrases are generally interchangeable.

What's the difference between "paying the deficit" and "balancing the budget"?

"Paying the deficit" specifically refers to reducing an existing shortfall, while "balancing the budget" implies ensuring that income and expenses are equal, avoiding a new deficit. "Balancing the budget" aims for equilibrium, while paying the deficit corrects a previous imbalance.