repay each other

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "repay each other" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing mutual exchanges of favors, debts, or kindness between two parties. Example: "In a healthy relationship, partners should always strive to repay each other for the support they provide."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The latter is the needlessly complex system carriers use to repay each other for calls or data transmissions originating or ending on each another's networks.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Almost all lenders make housing loans that most borrowers will be able to repay with no more than 33percentt of their incomes, while allowing another 5percentt of income to repay all other debt.

The New York Times

Applicants who type only in lower-case letters, or entirely in upper case, are less likely to repay loans, other factors being equal, says Douglas Merrill, founder of ZestFinance, an American online lender whose default rate is roughly 40% lower than that of a typical payday lender.

The Economist

If you went to a lender which used simple income multiples, you would need to find one prepared to lend 3.8 times your joint income to get the £285,000 mortgage you require to be able to repay your other debts of £16,000.

The Guardian - Money

Banks do not trust themselves, nor their clients to repay, nor other banks.

Huffington Post

He said Hunter was waiting for the results of the audit to repay any other inappropriate expenses.

Los Angeles Times

While most project staff claimed that they have used the project criteria of poverty and women with young children, particularly girls, for pre-screening, it is also clear from talking to women that concern over the very poor's ability to repay, and other political and local considerations frequently influence their decision as to who could finally participate.

Unicef

Chaytor, former Labour MP for Bury North, and Morley, a former Labour environment minister, were ordered to repay other legal aid sums granted for their hearings and subsequent convictions at Southwark crown court.

The Guardian

• Have loans taken out to repay other debts, thereby accumulating more borrowing?

The Guardian - Money

The companies also collected fees in exchange for guaranteeing that borrowers would repay other home loans.

The New York Times

Mr. Picard is suing Mr. Madoff's biggest investors, including philanthropists and offshore hedge funds, and will repay other investors with money he recovers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "repay each other", ensure that the context clearly indicates a mutual obligation or exchange between two parties. Avoid using it when referring to a one-way transaction.

Common error

Avoid using "repay each other" when only one party is providing something in return. Ensure that both parties are contributing to the exchange to maintain the phrase's intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "repay each other" functions as a reciprocal verb phrase, indicating a mutual action or obligation between two parties. As Ludwig AI states, it's used when discussing mutual exchanges of favors, debts, or kindness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "repay each other" is a reciprocal expression signifying a mutual exchange or obligation between two parties. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct but relatively rare in usage. The contexts in which it appears lean towards news, business, and general knowledge (Wiki) domains. To ensure accurate usage, remember that "repay each other" should only be used when both parties are actively participating in a reciprocal exchange, differentiating it from one-sided transactions. Consider alternatives such as "reciprocate" or "return the favor" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reciprocate

Implies a direct return of something, often a favor or action, in equal measure. It's a more concise and formal way of expressing the same idea.

Return the favor

Specifically refers to returning a kindness or helpful act that was previously done for you. Less formal and more personal.

Give back

Suggests a return of something, often in a charitable or altruistic sense. Implies a sense of obligation or gratitude.

Compensate each other

Implies making amends or providing something in return for a loss or service. Focuses on balancing an inequity.

Reimburse each other

Specifically refers to returning money or covering expenses that one party incurred on behalf of another. More transactional.

Settle accounts

Suggests a final resolution of debts or obligations between parties. More formal and often used in business contexts.

Make amends

Implies atoning for a wrong or mistake by offering something in return. Focuses on repairing a relationship or situation.

Pay someone back

A more colloquial way of saying "repay", often used in informal contexts.

Return the kindness

Similar to "return the favor", but specifically emphasizes the return of a kind act or gesture.

Exchange favors

Highlights the mutual aspect of exchanging assistance or benefits. More transactional and less personal than some other options.

FAQs

How can I use "repay each other" in a sentence?

You can use "repay each other" to describe a situation where two parties are exchanging something, such as favors, debts, or kindness. For example, "In a healthy relationship, partners should always strive to "repay each other" for the support they provide."

What's a more formal alternative to "repay each other"?

A more formal alternative to "repay each other" is "reciprocate", which implies a direct return of something, often a favor or action, in equal measure.

Is it correct to say "repay to each other"?

No, the correct phrasing is "repay each other". The preposition "to" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context.

When is it appropriate to use "return the favor" instead of "repay each other"?

Use "return the favor" when specifically referring to returning a kindness or helpful act that was previously done for you. It's less formal and more personal than "repay each other".