pay sb\'s way

Are you using the idiom pay sb\'s way but not sure about its meaning? Using idioms, which are important elements of spoken and written language, in the right place strengthens your language skills. Examine the meaning of the pay sb\'s way idiom and the situations in which it is used.

Meaning of "pay sb\'s way"

Meaning

The phrase 'pay sb's way' is an idiom which means to provide someone with the financial means to do something, especially when the expense is shared between two parties. It implies that one person is paying for another, usually out of a sense of generosity or obligation. Additionally, it can mean to provide someone with a way to do something, such as paying for the time or resources necessary for them to do it.

Etymology

The phrase 'pay sb's way' originated in the early 1900s, and was first used in a play by English author Noel Coward in 1926. In the play, Coward used the phrase to describe a father paying for his daughters to attend college. Since then, the phrase has been used in a variety of contexts, both literally and figuratively.

Usage

The phrase is most commonly used in everyday language when two or more people share a cost. This could be in the context of a vacation or a night out, when one person will pay for the other's expenses. In this situation, the phrase implies that the person who is paying for the other is doing so out of kindness or obligation. The phrase can also be used in a figurative sense, such as when one person is paying for the resources or time necessary for another to do something. This could be in the context of a job, where an employer pays for an employee's resources or training.

Example Sentences

• My aunt offered to pay my way for my summer vacation.
• She was so grateful that he had paid her way for the job interview.
• I will pay your way to the conference if you promise to take lots of notes.

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.