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pay up

B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

to give the money you should give

Literal meaning: to pay upward or fully over

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

to pay money that you owe, especially after being reminded or pressured

"If you borrowed the money, you need to pay up by Friday."

"Pay up, sucker."

— Common movie dialogue; exact source uncertain
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Often slightly forceful or impatient in tone. Common in speech, warnings, and arguments.

Commonly used with

debt bill rent fine tab wages

Forms

Base
pay up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pays up
he/she/it
Past simple
paid up
yesterday
Past participle
paid up
have + pp
-ing form
paying up
continuous

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Synonyms

settle up hand over the money pay what you owe cough up fork over

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