settle the bill

Meaning

This formal phrase means to pay the money that you owe, especially at a restaurant, hotel, or for a professional service. It is a polite and business-appropriate alternative to simply saying 'pay' or 'get the check'.

Examples

• Excuse me, we would like to settle the bill now, please.

  Excuse me, we would like to settle the bill now, please.

• Mr. Davis insisted on settling the bill before we left the restaurant.

  Mr. Davis insisted on settling the bill before we left the restaurant.

• You can settle the bill at the front desk when you check out tomorrow.

  You can settle the bill at the front desk when you check out tomorrow.

• They argued over who would settle the bill at the end of the business lunch.

  They argued over who would settle the bill at the end of the business lunch.

• Please allow me to settle the bill as a thank you for your help.

  Please allow me to settle the bill as a thank you for your help.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to pay the bill of our dinner.

  ✓ I need to settle the bill for our dinner.

  While 'pay' is correct, 'settle the bill' is more natural, and it takes the preposition 'for' rather than 'of'.

• ✗ Let's settle the check.

  ✓ Let's settle the bill.

  While 'check' is used with 'pay' (pay the check), the collocation 'settle' almost always pairs with 'bill' in formal contexts.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Could we please ___? We have a train to catch.

  💡 A formal way to ask to pay at a restaurant.

  Show answer

  settle the bill

• He went to the reception desk to ___ for his stay.

  💡 To pay the final amount owed.

  Show answer

  settle the bill