| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| pay my respects |
attend a ceremony or send a symbol of your respect for someone
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Remembrance Day allows us to pay our respects to the people who defended our country.
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| pay off |
pay all that you owe, pay the balance
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I want to pay off my loan now - pay the whole balance.
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| pay off |
reward you, give you what you want
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Studying pays off. You get higher grades.
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| pay-off |
reward, profit
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We invested in property, hoping for a pay-off when we sell it.
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| pay the penalty |
pay a fine, endure, receive punishment
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He paid the penalty for his laziness: failure.
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| pay the price |
work hard, endure, suffer
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To be an Olympic athlete, you have to pay the price: pain.
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| pay the shot |
pay the whole bill, pay for everybody's ticket etc.
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Uncle Sammy paid the whole shot for our trip to Europe.
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| pay through the nose |
pay high rates for rent or service, cost an arm...
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If you rent a condo in Dover, you'll pay through the nose.
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| pay tribute |
show that you respect or admire a person, honor someone
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In a letter to Ms. Lee, the City paid tribute to her for service to her community.
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| pay up |
pay what is owed, pay a bet you lost
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When I see Todd, I'll ask him to pay up. He owes me $20.
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