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Glite Dictionary
to put one's hand in one's pocket

to put one's hand in one's pocket

8.1
To give money willingly, often when it is not needed
  • idiom
translation icon : poner dinero
  • When the charity needed funds, she didn't hesitate to put her hand in her pocket.

Examples

  • He put his hand in his pocket to help the charity.

  • You'll have to put your hand in your pocket if you want to buy better quality.

  • For the team dinner, each member was expected to put their hand in their pocket.

  • Why won't you put your hand in your pocket for the fundraiser?

  • During the fundraiser, he decided to put his hand in his pocket to support the cause.

  • When the club needed new equipment, everyone was encouraged to put their hand in their pocket.

  • She always puts her hand in her pocket when it comes to helping those in need.

Synonyms

to pay up
vsto put one's hand in one's pocket
  • Informal
35 3.6

Give someone the money you owe them, often after they ask you

is voluntary contribution rather than paying debts under pressure
to shell out
vsto put one's hand in one's pocket
  • Informal
30 7.1

Pay a large amount of money even when you do not want to

is usually smaller, voluntary spending not large forced payments
to pony up
vsto put one's hand in one's pocket
  • Informal
21 8.2

Pay money, often reluctantly, when others expect it

is willing giving often without reluctance or expectation
to fork over
vsto put one's hand in one's pocket
  • Informal
15 6.1

To give money to someone after they ask or force you

is voluntary payment rather than a pressured handover
to put one's money where one's mouth is
vsto put one's hand in one's pocket
  • Informal
8 6.5

To support your words by giving money or doing work

spends willingly without needing to prove a claim
to fork out
vsto put one's hand in one's pocket
  • Informal
3 7.5

To pay money when you do not want to

is willing or voluntary spending instead of informal reluctant payment
to fork up
vsto put one's hand in one's pocket
  • Informal
1 8.1

To pay money unwillingly

is willing spending rather than reluctant handing over
to put into the kitty
vsto put one's hand in one's pocket
  • Informal
6.2

Give money to a shared pot to pay for something the group needs

spends personally rather than adding to a communal fund

Antonyms

to withhold
210 5.1

Refuse to give something someone wants or needs

How Generous

to sponsor
362 3.7
to put one's hand in one's pocket
8.1
to contribute
883 2.7
to chip in
31 3.2
to pay
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

put one's hand in one's pocket infinitive
put one's hand in one's pocket past
put one's hand in one's pocket past participle
putting one's hand in one's pocket present participle
puts one's hand in one's pocket third person singular

Morphology

put + one + hand + in + one + pocket

The phrase evokes a clear physical image (putting a hand into a pocket to take out money), so learners who know the words can partly infer a payment/contribution sense. However, the use as a conventionalized metaphor for willingly spending or contributing money is culturally specific and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so some prior exposure or pragmatic knowledge is needed.

Etymology

Put one's hand in one's pocket comes from the simple image of putting your hand into your pocket to take out money. So it means 'to spend or give money', often willingly or to help out.