Meaning of pick up the tab | Babel Free

Definitions

To accept a bill and pay it, especially at a bar or restaurant.

US, idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

“When the bill came to just 33,000 forints, I did something very out of character: I picked up the tab. It blew the budget for the day, but felt great.”

“Meanwhile, the taxpayer picked up the tab for over 50% of track and train costs at Northern, Merseyrail and the Transport for Wales rail operation.”

“A stranger picked up the tab for the coffee order of the next customer in the drive-through line at a Tim Hortons coffeehouse in Winnipeg, Canada. And that customer picked up the tab of the person behind him.”

CEFR level