pay (one's) respects

pay (one's) respects

1. To offer (someone) a proper or formal expression of greeting, welcome, esteem, or well wishes. I think we should go over and pay our respects to the new neighbors and make them feel welcome to the area!

2. To offer or express one's condolences or sympathy, particularly to someone's family following their death. I'm heading to Janet's house after her father's funeral on Sunday to pay my respects to her and her family.

See also: pay, respect

pay your respects

FORMAL

1. If you pay your respects to someone, you go to see them or you send them a message in order to be polite. Carl had asked him to visit the hospital and to pay his respects to Francis.

2. If you pay your respects, you go to someone's funeral. People came from miles around to pay their respects.

See also: pay, respect

pay your respects

make a polite visit to someone.

A similar expression is pay your last respects , meaning ‘show respect towards a dead person by attending their funeral’.

See also: pay, respect

pay your reˈspects (to somebody)

(formal) show respect for somebody by visiting them, attending their funeral, etc: At the funeral the whole neighbourhood came out to pay their respects (to him).

See also: pay, respect