What’s up, guys? 

As I was working on our previous post about money problems, it came to mind how the phrase to pay off has another possible use, not money-related, but which is also equally relevant. Then I was reading on Olympic mascots later this week and the article mentions how those lovely creatures pay tribute to their cultures. And then it didn’t take me long from that to take the leap and come up with the idea to write about phrases with pay.

My efforts paid off! (Photo by Min An from Pexels)

I found them to be particularly interesting because the other languages I speak have somewhat similar phrases with the same meaning, but they don’t use the word pay as the main verb. So time to pay attention! 

pay off

to have good results

• Mitchell worked hard on his essay and it paid off. He got an A+!
• Organizing teambuilding trips sounds complicated, but it really pays off when you see how much it brings everyone together.

pay a compliment

to express your appreciation for something or someone

• John is always paying you a compliment and saying how pretty you look. I think he’s into you!
• The manager rarely pays anyone a compliment, so you must have done a good job on the project.
  

  Pay attention to this word! (Photo by Monstera from Pexels)

pay attention (to something)

to be a alert or aware of a certain situation

• I just told you not to push that button. Weren’t you paying attention?
• Pay attention, everyone! This will be on your next week’s exam so you don’t want to miss it.

pay a visit, pay a call

to visit someone either at home or a place they are staying

• We should pay grandma a call. She’s been in the hospital for two weeks.
• Hey, Greg! Sorry to drop by unannounced, but I’m in town just for today and I thought I’d pay you a visit.

pay one’s respects

Let’s pay grandma a visit (Photo by cottonbro from Pexels)

to formally express your greetings or your condolences after someone’s death

• Our new neighbors just moved in. How about we bake some cookies and head over there to pay our respects?
• If you run into Mr. Kipps, please pay my respects.
• Thousands of people came from all over the world to pay their respects to Princess Diana at her funeral.

I hope reading this text pays off! Can you think of any other phrases with pay? Are there equivalents in your language to the ones we covered today? let us know in the comment section below.