split the bill

USAGE SUMMARY

'split the bill' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used when two or more people are paying for a shared expense, such as a meal out. For example, "Let's split the bill evenly so that we each pay the same amount."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Dave and I split the bill).

The New York Times - Travel

And this is exactly why you must split the bill.

Independent

So how do you usually split the bill?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You can even split the bill with friends this way.

The Guardian - Money

When attempting to split the bill, discover that you've already forgotten all math.

Columbia University

I was a complete jerk by not wanting to split the bill with you.

The New York Times

And "co-pay" sounded to me like what happens when friends split the bill at dinner.

The New York Times

It's not yet clear whether the government will agree to split the bill.

The Guardian

On Sunday night, the governments were still haggling over how to split the bill.

The New York Times

What if you want to share the food and split the bill?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When they dined out, they split the bill, as friends often do.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When suggesting to "split the bill", be clear about how the division will occur (e.g., equally, by individual items ordered) to avoid confusion and potential disagreements.

Common error

Don't automatically assume everyone wants to divide the bill equally. Some may prefer to pay only for what they consumed, especially if there were significant differences in orders.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "split the bill" functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a common and acceptable phrase, indicating an action of dividing costs among multiple people.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "split the bill" is a very common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of dividing a shared expense, most often in the context of dining out. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and common usage. The phrase is appropriate for neutral settings, with the primary purpose of discussing payment methods. While commonly used, it's important to communicate how the bill will be divided to avoid potential misunderstandings. Alternatives include "share the cost" or "go Dutch", but "split the bill" remains a clear and widely understood way to address shared expenses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

split the tab

Synonymous to "split the bill", just using another word (tab) instead of bill.

share the tab

Replaces "bill" with "tab", a synonym, maintaining the context of a restaurant or bar.

divide the check

Uses "check" as an alternative term for "bill", referring to the restaurant bill.

share the cost

Focuses on the act of sharing a cost rather than the specific act of dividing a bill.

divide the expenses

Emphasizes the division of expenses in general, not necessarily related to a bill.

go Dutch

An idiomatic expression indicating that each person pays their own way.

share expenses equally

Highlights the even distribution of costs among the participants.

contribute equally

Emphasizes the act of contributing a fair share towards a common expense.

chip in

A casual expression meaning to contribute money to a shared expense.

divvy up the costs

A slightly less common way of saying divide the costs.

FAQs

How do you politely suggest to "split the bill"?

You can say something like, "Would you like to "split the bill"?" or "Should we "go Dutch"?" to initiate the conversation.

Is it always fair to "split the bill" evenly?

Not always. If one person ordered significantly more expensive items, it might be fairer to calculate individual costs. Consider individual circumstances before splitting evenly.

What's an alternative to saying "split the bill"?

You could suggest to "share the cost", "divide the expenses", or "go Dutch". The best option depends on the context and your relationship with the other people involved.

How can technology help when you "split the bill"?

Many apps are available that allow you to easily calculate and "split the bill" among friends, taking into account individual orders and tax.