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Glite Dictionary
to spring for

to spring for

22 7.6
To pay for something as a treat for other people
  • phrasal verb
  • /sprɪŋ fɔr/
  • Informal
translation icon : invitar
  • Thanks for springing for it.
  • spring for lunch
  • spring for dinner
  • spring for a cab

It's hard to know whether it's worth it to spring for that higher tier component without first hand experience of how the extra cost is going to affect your gameplay.

Examples

  • Look, friend, if I do the running, I know you'll wanna spring for the tab.

    Neighbors (1981)

  • I'll spring for dinner at that new restaurant if you're free tonight.

  • What else did you spring for?

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I guess I can spring for one extra meal.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Did you tell him I'd spring for gas?

    Winter's Bone (2010)

  • Should probably spring for something a little nicer.

    Christmas Miracle (2012)

  • It's great if you are on a budget and don't want to spring for dinner out.

    Blog text (21)

  • " I'm just surprised you'd spring for the good stuff, is all.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • If nothing else, the campaign could have sprung for pizza and beer for everyone who participated.

    Blog text (28)

  • Josh's pockets were empty, but for once Doss sprang for the meal without complaint.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

to pick up
vsto spring for
77 2.8

To pay for something, often for someone else

pays specifically as a voluntary treat or unexpected generous gesture
to foot the bill
vsto spring for
  • Informal
29 5.3

To pay for something, often when it is expensive or unexpected

pays as a voluntary often smaller gesture rather than an obligation
to pony up
vsto spring for
  • Informal
21 8.2

Pay money, often reluctantly, when others expect it

pays instead as a voluntary unexpected treat not out of duty
to fork over
vsto spring for
  • Informal
15 6.1

To give money to someone after they ask or force you

pays as a willing small generosity rather than under pressure

Antonyms

to withhold
210 5.1

Refuse to give something someone wants or needs

How Generous

to foot the bill
  • Informal
29 5.3
to spring for
  • Informal
22 7.6
to pick up
77 2.8
to pay
∞ 1.0
to go halfsies
  • Slang
1 8.8
to chip in
31 3.2

Surface Forms

spring for infinitive
springing for present participle
springs for third person singular
sprang for past
sprung for past participle

Morphology

spring + for

The verb 'spring' (to appear or move suddenly) combined with the preposition 'for' does not transparently yield the sense 'to pay for' — the payment meaning is idiomatic and cannot be predicted from the literal meanings of the parts. While 'for' can mark a beneficiary, that alone doesn't indicate paying, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents but has not seen the phrase would be unlikely to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Spring for may come from the image of money suddenly springing out of your pocket when someone decides to pay. So, spring for means 'to pay for' something, often 'as a treat' for others.