picked up the tab

USAGE SUMMARY

"picked up the tab" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to paying for something, usually a bill or tab at a restaurant or bar. Example: "We all had a great time at dinner last night, but John was kind enough to pick up the tab for the whole group."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Who picked up the tab?

The Guardian - Music

(Farmers picked up the tab).

The New York Times - Magazine

Elaine had picked up the tab.

The New York Times

In turn, taxpayers picked up the tab for their failures".

The Guardian - Business

He was a banker, and always picked up the tab.

The New York Times - Food

To make matters worse, he, too, picked up the tab.

The New York Times

As in previous years, he picked up the tab.

The New York Times

Jimi Hendrix, Mr. Hoffman says, picked up the tab.

The New York Times - Books

"Darryl picked up the tab for everyone," Gaston says.

The New York Times - Magazine

If their bets paid off, they did well; if not, their employers picked up the tab.

The New York Times

As state assemblies have cut back, the people of China have picked up the tab.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "picked up the tab" when you want to casually indicate that someone paid the bill, especially in a restaurant or bar setting.

Common error

Avoid using "picked up the tab" in contexts where someone only contributed partially to the payment. This phrase typically implies full payment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "picked up the tab" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating that someone has paid the entire bill or cost. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use across various contexts, affirming its idiomatic role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "picked up the tab" is a very common and grammatically correct idiomatic expression that means someone paid the entire bill. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, predominantly in news and media, and is generally considered neutral in register. For more formal settings, alternatives like "assumed financial responsibility" might be more appropriate. The phrase clearly communicates the act of covering expenses and is readily understood in most English-speaking contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

covered the bill

Uses a more general term 'covered' instead of 'picked up', but retains the meaning of paying.

paid the bill

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more literal one using the verb 'paid'.

foot the bill

A synonymous idiomatic expression with 'foot' replacing 'pick up'.

settled the account

More formal and implies a complete payment of what's owed.

took care of the charges

Focuses on the 'charges' being paid, rather than the tab itself.

assumed financial responsibility

Formal way of saying someone took on the obligation of paying.

paid for everything

Emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the payment.

treated everyone

Highlights the act of paying for others, implying generosity.

was responsible for payment

A formal expression indicating the obligation to pay.

sponsored the expenses

Suggests a more formal or official payment arrangement.

FAQs

How can I use "picked up the tab" in a sentence?

You can say, "John generously "picked up the tab" for our dinner", indicating he paid the entire bill.

What is a more formal way to say "picked up the tab"?

A more formal alternative is "assumed financial responsibility", which is suitable for professional contexts.

Is "picked up the tab" appropriate for business writing?

While acceptable, consider alternatives like "covered the expenses" for a more professional tone in formal business communications.

What's the difference between "picked up the tab" and "foot the bill"?

They are essentially interchangeable idioms, both meaning to pay the entire bill. The choice often comes down to personal preference or regional dialect.