bill (redirected from billable)

*phony as a three-dollar bill and *queer as a three-dollar bill

phony; bogus. (*Also: as ~.) This guy's as phony as a three-dollar bill. The whole deal stinks. It's as queer as a three-dollar bill.

bill someone for something

to ask someone for payment for something in writing. Just bill me for the balance. She billed them for her expenses and then tried to deduct the expenses from her income tax.

Check, please, and Could I have the bill?; Could I have the check?

Could you give me the check or the bill for this food or drink? When they both had finished their dessert and coffee, Tom said, "Check, please." Bill: That meal was really good. Waiter! Could I have the check, please. Waiter: Right away, sir.

See also: please

fill the bill and fit the bill

to be acceptable. Jane: I need some string. Tom: Here's some twine. Will it fill the bill? I need cloth to make a shirt. This muslin ought to fit the bill.

See also: fill

foot the bill (for something)

Fig. to pay for something; to pay for a bill. My boss took me out for lunch and the company footed the bill. You paid for dinner last time. Let me foot the bill for lunch today.

See also: foot

pad the bill

Fig. to put unnecessary or additional items on a bill to make the total cost higher. The plumber had padded the bill with things we didn't need. I was falsely accused of padding the bill.

See also: pad

sell someone a bill of goods

Fig. to get someone to believe something that isn't true; to deceive someone. Don't pay any attention to what John says. He's just trying to sell you a bill of goods. I'm not selling you a bill of goods. What I say is true.

See also: good, sell

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a clean bill of health

if you give someone or something a clean bill of health, you examine them and state that they are healthy, in good condition, or legal John will have to stay at home until the doctors give him a clean bill of health. Of 30 countries inspected for airline safety only 17 received a clean bill of health.

See also: clean, health

a whale of a [bill/difference/problem etc.]  (American & Australian)

a very large bill, difference, problem etc. Another thousand dollars would make a whale of a difference. We ran up a whale of a bill in the restaurant.

See also: whale

bill and coo  (old-fashioned)

if you bill and coo with someone you love, you talk quietly to them and kiss them

Usage notes: If birds bill and coo, they touch beaks and make noises to each other.

(often in continuous tenses) I don't know why they bother to come out if they're going to spend all their time billing and cooing.

See also: and

fit the bill  (British, American & Australian) also fill the bill (American & Australian)

to have the qualities or experience which are needed I'm looking for someone with several years of publishing experience and you seem to fit the bill. The city needs a strong leader, and the new mayor just doesn't fill the bill.

See foot the bill, sell a bill of goods, pick up the bill

See also: fit

foot the bill

to pay for something (often + for ) Who's going to foot the bill for all the repairs?

See also: foot

pick up the bill/tab  (informal)

to pay for something, often something that is not your responsibility When we go out for dinner it's always Jack who picks up the bill. (often + for ) It's the taxpayer who picks up the tab for all these crazy government schemes.

See also: pick, up

sell somebody a bill of goods  (American)

to make someone believe something that is not true Politicians have sold all of us a bill of goods, that if we put more people in prison we're going to be safer. The electrician said I'd need the outdoor lighting on a different circuit - is he just selling me a bill of goods?

See also: good, sell

the Old Bill  (British informal, old-fashioned)

the police The Old Bill was round here yesterday, asking where you were.

See also: old

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a clean bill of health

1. news that you are healthy or well Johnson was given a clean bill of health by his doctors earlier this month.

2. news that an organization is operating correctly The airline received a clean bill of health from federal investigators.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of a clean bill of health (a statement from a health official that all the people working on a ship are in good health)

See also: clean, health

fit the bill also fill the bill

to have the qualities or experience that are needed If you want quieter entertainment, there are many excellent museums in town that will fit the bill.

See also: fit

foot the bill

to pay money owed Who's going to foot the bill for all the repairs?

See also: foot

foot the bill

to pay all the costs for something We ended up having to foot the bill for a new roof because our insurance didn't cover storm damage.

See also: foot

pick up the bill (for something) See: pick up the tab (for something)

See also: pick, up

sell somebody a bill of goods

to lie about something He sold the FBI a bill of goods to stay out of jail himself.

See also: good, sell