26984 words

bills

27 definitions • 41 examples
1
a request for payment of money owed, or the piece of paper on which it is written:

Examples:

an electricity/gas/phone bill
bill for They sent us a bill for the work they had done.
run up a bill She ran up (= caused herself to have) a huge phone bill.
They asked the waitress for the bill.
Could we have the bill, please?
2
to pay for something:

Examples:

Her mother agreed to foot the bill.
She was left to foot the bill for the repairs.
Taxpayers will have to foot the bill for cleaning up the polluted rivers.
She never expects anyone else to foot the bill for her trips.
There was no way that I could foot the bill on my own.
3
a formal statement of a planned new law that is discussed before being voted on:

Examples:

amend a bill The bill was amended (= changed).
pass a bill When a bill is passed in Parliament, it becomes law.
throw out a bill informal The bill was thrown out (= did not go past the first stage of discussion and will not become law).
4
a piece of paper money:

Examples:

a dollar/one-dollar bill
a ten-dollar bill
5
6
to be performing in a show, concert, play, etc.:

Examples:

There were lots of big names (= famous people) on the bill.
7
to be the most important performer in a show, play, film, concert, etc. :

Examples:

This will be the actor's 22nd year heading the bill at the Theatre Royal, York.
8
the beak of a bird
9
the part of a cap that sticks out above the eyes of the person who is wearing it:

Examples:

He wore a baseball cap with the bill pulled down over his eyes.
10
to give or send someone a bill asking for money that they owe for a product or service:

Examples:

bill someone for something Please bill me for any expenses you incur.
11
to advertise something with a particular description; to describe someone in a particular way in order to advertise them or make them known:

Examples:

bill something as something The film was billed as a romantic comedy.
The young author was billed as "the new Beckett."
12
to list a person or performance on a programme of events :

Examples:

She was billed to perform every night for a period of two weeks.
13
the police
14
a list of expenses to be paid, or the total amount of costs or expenses:

Examples:

We still have doctors’ bills to pay.
15
A bill is also a check .
16
a piece of paper money:

Examples:

He pulled out a thick wad of bills and gave me $20.
17
a formal statement of a planned new law that is discussed by a government or legislature before being voted on:

Examples:

After a bill is passed by both houses of Congress, it becomes law when the president signs it.
18
the beak of a bird
19
to send someone a statement of what is owed:

Examples:

Some places will bill you, but at others you have to pay right away.
20
a document showing how much money you owe for goods or services you have received:

Examples:

bill for sth a bill for $10,000
big/huge/hefty, etc. bill (for sth) The company faces a hefty bill for repairs after the storm.
pay/settle a bill I don't have the money to pay this gas bill.
monthly/quarterly/weekly bill They can afford their monthly bills for basics such as food and housing but have little left for luxuries.
pay/pick up a bill The firm picked up the bill for him to be flown by executive jet to Edinburgh.
cut/reduce a bill We need to find ways of reducing our energy bills.
If you prefer you can request an itemized bill and get a list of every call you have made.
gas/phone/tax, etc. bill
21
to pay a bill:

Examples:

Should the government foot the bill for all its citizens - or only the poorest among us?
22
a piece of paper given to you when you have finished eating at a restaurant, showing how much money you owe:

Examples:

"Could we have the bill please?"
pick up the bill Don't worry. I'll pick up the bill.
23
a formal statement of a planned new law that is discussed before being voted on:

Examples:

The bill became law in April.
amend/pass a bill They soon realized that they didn't have enough votes to pass the bill.
24
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25
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26
to send someone a bill telling them how much money they owe for goods or services that they have received:

Examples:

bill sb for sth The law firm had billed its clients for more than 400 hours.
27
to describe something as being something:

Examples:

bill sth as sth The new technology is being billed as "the email of the future".

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