PAY

(BUY) [verb] [past:] paid - to give (money) to (someone) usually for something which you want to buy, for services provided or because it is owedHow much did you pay for the tickets? [T]I pay my taxes. [T]If you go to the bank, will you pay these cheques in (US usually deposit these checks) for me? [M]Will you pay these cheques into (US usually deposit these checks in) my account for me? [T]Can you lend me a fiver? I'll pay you/it back tomorrow. [T]I'll pay you the fiver back tomorrow. [+ two objects]I paid the driver (with) cash. [+ two objects]Would you prefer to pay with/by cash, cheque or credit card? [I]After a lot of haggling, we paid her $60 (for the table). [+ two objects]I think we'll need to pay a builder to take this wall down. [T + object + to infinitive]Did Linda pay you for looking after her cats while she was away? [T](figurative) He swore he'd pay her back (= make her suffer) for all she'd done to him. [T](figurative) We all pay for (= receive the bad results of) our mistakes in some way at some time. [I]We should be able to pay off the debt within two years. [M]He wouldn't give evidence, I think someone paid him off (= paid him not to talk about something which he knows is illegal). [M](figurative) It'll be interesting to see if the investment pays off (= is successful). [I]Things are looking bad, we might have to pay off (= pay for the last time and then dismiss) more workers. [M]I paid (out) a lot of money to get the washing machine fixed and it still doesn't work! [T or M]If you don't pay (UK also pay over) the money by Tuesday, my boss is going to want to know why. [T or M]Every paying adult who goes on the trip can take a child with them absolutely free!Eventually they paid up, but only after receiving several reminders. [I]After its recent losses, the company intends to pay reduced dividends next month. [T](figurative) The extra training that he did is really paying dividends (= showing itself to be worth the effort). [T](informal) 'You pays your money and you takes your choice/chance' means a person can choose whatever thing or action they prefer because all the choices are as good as each other.To pay your dues is to do something that you do not enjoy in order to have something that you want, or because you feel it is your duty.I've raised three children and I feel I've paid my dues. It's someone else's turn to take charge of the kids now.If something pays for itself, it works so well that it saves the same amount of money, usually over a period of time, that it cost.The advertising should pay for itself by increasing sales.When someone or something pays the price, they experience the bad result of their actions.If you abuse your body now, you'll pay the price when you're older.If a person pays the ultimate price, they die because of something they have done, esp. having taken an action for moral reasons.If our soldiers have to pay the ultimate price for defending their country, then so be it.(informal) If a person pays through the nose for something, they pay a lot of money, usually too much, for it.We paid through the nose to get the car fixed and it still doesn't go properly.(US) If someone pays top dollar for something, they pay a lot of money for it.He wants to develop the whole block and doesn't mind paying top dollar to get hold of the remaining properties.If someone pays their way, they pay for the things which they use or have rather than letting someone else pay.(US) Pay-per-view is a system for Cable television in which viewers only pay for particular programmes which they watch.A pay phone is a public telephone which is made to operate by putting coins into it.(saying) 'He who pays the piper calls the tune' means that the person who provides the money can choose what is done with it.