settle the bill

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   to pay the full amount of money that you owe for something, especially a meal, hotel stay, or service.

   Grammar: Use it as a complete verb phrase: 'I'll settle the bill.' It takes no object after 'bill' unless you say 'settle the bill for something'.

   Patterns

   • settle the bill
   • settle the bill for something

   After a lovely dinner, my father settled the bill and left a tip.

   The company settled the bill for the conference room and the equipment.

   Could you settle the bill at the front desk before you check out?

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   to pay the cost of something on behalf of someone else, often as a gift or obligation.

   Grammar: Often followed by 'for someone' to show who you are paying for.

   Patterns

   • settle the bill for someone

   My uncle settled the bill for the whole family at the reunion.

   The insurance company settled the bill for the repairs directly with the garage.

Common combinations

settle the bill at the end

We can settle the bill at the end of the meal.

settle the bill in cash

He settled the bill in cash to avoid card fees.

settle the bill promptly

Please settle the bill promptly to avoid late charges.

settle the bill with the manager

She settled the bill with the manager after complaining about the room.

Synonyms and how they differ

pay the bill

This is the more common, neutral phrase; 'settle the bill' sounds slightly more formal and final.

foot the bill

This means to pay, often reluctantly or for something expensive; it is more idiomatic and informal.

clear the bill

This is less common and often means to pay off a debt completely, similar to 'settle'.

Word family

settlement noun

The act of paying a debt or the amount paid.

settle verb

To pay what you owe; also to end an argument or decide something.

Commonly confused: settle the bill or pay the bill?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “settle the bill”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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