owe (redirected from owe one)

*pound of flesh

Fig. a payment or punishment that involves suffering and sacrifice on the part of the person being punished. (*Typically: give someone ~; owe someone ~; pay someone ~; take ~.) He wants revenge. He won't be satisfied until he takes his pound of flesh.

See also: flesh, pound

I owe you one.

Inf. Thank you, now I owe you a favor.; I owe you something similar in return. Bob: I put the extra copy of the book on your desk. Sue: Thanks, I owe you one. Bill: Let me pay for your drink. Bob: Thanks a lot, I owe you one.

See also: one

owe someone a debt of gratitude

a large amount of thanks owed to someone who deserves gratitude. (Actually payment of the debt is owed.) We owe you a debt of gratitude for all you have done for us.

See also: debt

owe something (to someone) (for something)

to be under obligation to pay or repay someone for something. I owe forty dollars to Ann for the dinner. I owe money for the gift to Ann. I still owe money for the gift. Do you still owe money to Ann?

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your pound of flesh

if someone demands their pound of flesh, they make someone give them something that they owe them, although they do not need it and it will cause problems for the other person

Usage notes: This phrase comes from Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice.

His boss, demanding his pound of flesh, made him come into work even though his daughter was seriously ill.

See also: flesh, pound

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you owe it to yourself to do something

you deserve to do something you want to do After working so hard, you owe it to yourself to take a long vacation.

owe it to somebody to do something

to have a duty to do something for someone We owe it to our students to figure out how we can help them get a education.