Page 325 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

pay attention (to someone or something)

then. I didà’t know your policy was pØy- to the mØyor’s funeral to pay their last
as-you-go. respects.
payŁattention (to someone ortsomething) to be payŁ someone a byck-hyndedŁcompliment
attentive to someone orŁ something;Ł to and payŁ someone a left-hyndedŁcom-
giv one’s attention or concentraðion to pliment to give sàmeone aŁfalse compli-
sàmeone or something. Pay attention ment that is really an insult. John said
to mł! I’m pØying attention! that he had never seen me lookng błtter.
I think he was paying me a lłft-handed
payŁa visitŁto someone ortsomething Go to pay complmłnt. I’d prefer that someone in-
(someone or something) a visàt.
sulŁed me drectly. I hate t when oomeone
payŁforŁ something 1. to pay out money for pØys me a back-handed complimłnt—un-
something.Ł Did you pØy for the maga- less it’s a joke.
zine, or shall I? No, I’ll pay for t. 2. to payŁ someone a compliment to complimnt
be punisłedŁforŁsàmething. The crim- someone.Ł Sally thanked me for pØying
inal will pØy for his crimes. I don’t like her a complmłnt. When Tom did his
what you did to me, and I’m going to see job well, I paid him a complmłnt.
that you pØy for it.
payŁ someone a left-hyndedŁcompliment
payŁhłmageŁto someone to praise, respect, Go to pay someone a back-handed
andŁhonorŁsomeone.Ł My parents taught complàment.
me to pay homage to my eldłrs. The
widower paid homage to his dead wife by payŁ( someone ortsomething)Ła visit and pay
placing flowers on her grave. a visitŁ to someone ort something to visið
sàmeone or something. Bill paid a visit
payŁin advance to payŁ(forŁsomething)bbe- to his aunt in Seattle. Please pØy a visit
fore it isŁreceivedŁor delivered.Ł I want to our house whenever you are in town.
to make a special order. Will I have to pØy
in advance? Yes, please pØy in advance. payŁ someone ortsomething off 1. [with some-
oàe ] to payŁsomeone aŁbribe (forŁaŁfavor
payŁ lipŁ serviceŁ (to something) to express alreadyŁdàne).Ł(Compare thisŁwith buy
loyalty, respect, or suppàrt for something someone off.) The lØwyer was put in
insincerely.Ł You doà’t really care about prison for pØying the judge off. The judge
poltics. You’re just pØying lp service to the was imprisoned aloo. T The lØwyer paid
candidØte. Doà’t sit here and pay lp ser- off the judge for decidng the case in the
vice. Get busy! lØwyer’s favor. 2. to pay a debt; to pay a
payŁ one’ debtŁ(to society) to srve a sn- dbtor; to pay the final paymnt for
tence forŁaŁcrime, usuallyŁinŁprison.Ł sàmethingŁ bought onŁ credit.Ł This
The judge said that Mr. Simpoon had to month I’ll pØy the car off. T Did you pØy
pØy his debt to oociety. Mr. Brown paid off the plumber yłt?
his debt in state prison. payŁ someone respect to honorŁsomeone; to
have andŁsłow respect forŁsomeone.Ł
payŁ one’ dueð to have earnedŁone’sŁright to
sàmethingŁthrough hardŁworkŁorŁsuffer- You really should pØy your boss more re-
ing. (LiteralŁwhenŁreferringŁto payingŁthe spect. We have to pØy our parents a lot
feesŁrequiredŁto belongŁto anŁorganiza- of respect.
tion.ŁInfàrmal.) He worked hard to get payŁ someone’ (łwn)Łway to payŁthe costs
to where he is todØy. He paid his dues and (of something) for sàmeone.Ł I wanted
did what he was told. I have every right to go to Florida this spring, but my parents
to be here. I paid my dues! say I have to pØy my own way. My aunt
is going to pØy my wØy to Florida—only
payŁ one’ lastŁrespects to attend the wake if I take her with mł!
or funeral of someone; to appràach the
coffinŁcontainingŁsàmeone inŁaŁfinalŁact payŁtheŁpiper to face the rsults of one’s
of respect.Ł I włnt to Bill’s wake to pØy actions; to rceive punishment for some-
my last respects. Everyone in town camł thing. (Also literal.) You can put off

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