payment


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to payment: payment request, Samsung Pay

pay·ment

 (pā′mənt)
n.
1. The act of paying or the state of being paid.
2. An amount paid: received a large payment.
3. One's due, reward, or punishment; requital.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

payment

(ˈpeɪmənt)
n
1. the act of paying
2. a sum of money paid
3. something given in return; punishment or reward
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pay•ment

(ˈpeɪ mənt)

n.
1. something that is paid.
2. the act of paying.
3. reward or punishment; requital.
[1300–50; Middle English, variant of paiement < Middle French. See pay1, -ment]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Payment

 

(See also BRIBERY, COST, EXTORTION, GRAFT, SOLICITATION.)

cash on the barrelhead Immediate payment; money on the spot. This Americanism probably gained currency during the days when perishable items were kept in barrels to retain freshness. To purchase something, one had to put “cash on the barrelhead.” Today the phrase is used to indicate that no credit is extended.

No more divorces in Holt County until there is cash on the “barrelhead,” is the edict. (Kansas City Times, April 7, 1932)

foot the bill To pay or settle an account; to assume responsibility for expenses incurred by others. This expression stems from the custom of signing one’s name at the bottom, or foot of a bill as a promise of payment. Over the years, this phrase has come to describe someone who pays an entire bill himself, rather than allow or force it to be divided among the parties involved.

The annual bill we foot is, after all, small compared with that of France. (Leeds Mercury, July 18, 1891)

the ghost walks Salaries will be paid; there is money in the treasury; it’s payday. This expression, inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, has two possible explanations, one of which cites Horatio’s asking the ghost (of Hamlet’s father) if it walks because:

Thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of earth. (I, i)

A more plausible, and certainly more colorful, theory tells of a 19th-century British theater company that threatened to strike because their salaries had not been paid for several weeks. The ghost was played by the leader of the company, a highly acclaimed actor. During a performance, the ghost, in answer to Hamlet’s exclamation, “Perchance ‘twill walk again,” shouted from the wings, “No, I’m damned if the ghost walks any more until our salaries are paid!” Their salaries were paid and the performance continued. From then on, the actors met every payday to determine whether the ghost would walk, i.e., whether they would be paid. This expression gave rise to ghost, theatrical slang for a paymaster or treasurer of a theater or theater company.

go on tick To buy an item on credit; to be indebted for what one purchases; also, get on tick. In this expression, tick is a shortening of ticket, where ticket carries its obsolete meaning of a written note acknowledging debt. Although the phrase never attained great popularity in the United States, it has been a commonplace expression in Great Britain for centuries.

A poor wretch that goes on tick for the paper he writes his lampoons on. (William Wycherley, Love in a Wood, 1672)

lay it on the line See RISK.

the never-never plan Installment buying, buying on credit; the layaway plan. This British colloquialism for their own hire-purchase is usually abbreviated to the slang never-never. It appeared in print as early as the 1920s, and continues in common usage.

They’ve still not paid off their mortgage, you know, and I wouldn’t mind betting that Rover of theirs is on the never-never. (J. Wilson, Truth or Dare, 1973)

nickel and dime to death To drain a person of his money bit by bit; to eat away at one’s monetary resources a little at a time; to exhaust one’s finances by an accumulation of small expenses. This U. S. colloquial expression has become common in recent years, probably because of continued inflation and “built-in obsolescence.” It might appear in a context such as: “It’s not the initial outlay or major maintenance that makes automobile ownership expensive, but they nickel and dime you to death with piddling repairs due to their own shoddy workmanship.”

on the cuff On credit; on a special payment plan; on tick. Although the origin of this expression is obscure, a plausible derivation is that, at one time, storekeepers and bartenders kept track of debts by making marks on their shirt cuffs, which, till the 1920s, were available in Celluloid and, like collars, were not sewn to the shirt. Written on in pencil, they could easily be wiped clean. The phrase is used frequently today.

Money was not important at all. All business was transacted on the cuff. (B. Macdonald, Egg and I 1945)

on the nail On the spot, at once, immediately, right away or now; used in reference to money payments. Although the origin of this expression is obscure, it may be related to the French phrase sur l’ongle ‘exactly, precisely’ (literally, ‘on the nail’). The expression appeared in Maria Edgeworth’s Popular Tales in 1804:

The bonnet’s all I want, which I’ll pay for on the nail.

No longer in common use, this phrase dates from the late 16th century.

on the nod On credit, on the cuff, with no money down. This expression, in use since the late 19th century, is said to have come from the practice of bidders at auctions, who signify their acceptance of a stated price with a nod of the head, on the understanding that the formalities of paying would be taken care of later. In any case, this gesture has long been used to show assent or agreement when entering into a bargain.

Drunks with determined minds to get bacon, bread, cheese, on the nod. (The Bulletin [Sydney], July, 1934)

Picturesque Expressions: A Thematic Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1980 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.payment - a sum of money paid or a claim dischargedpayment - a sum of money paid or a claim discharged
royalty - payment to the holder of a patent or copyright or resource for the right to use their property; "he received royalties on his book"
bonus, incentive - an additional payment (or other remuneration) to employees as a means of increasing output
cost - the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
overpayment - a payment larger than needed or expected
underpayment - a payment smaller than needed or expected
subscription - a payment for consecutive issues of a newspaper or magazine for a given period of time
regular payment - a payment made at regular times
blood money - paid to a hired murderer
recompense - payment or reward (as for service rendered)
refund - money returned to a payer
conscience money - payment made voluntarily to reduce guilt over dishonest dealings
support payment - a payment made by one person for the support of another
reward - payment made in return for a service rendered
bribe, payoff - payment made to a person in a position of trust to corrupt his judgment
residual - (often plural) a payment that is made to a performer or writer or director of a television show or commercial that is paid for every repeat showing; "he could retire on his residuals"
benefit - financial assistance in time of need
lump sum - a complete payment consisting of a single sum of money
final payment, payoff - the final payment of a debt
remitment, remittal, remittance, remission - a payment of money sent to a person in another place
quittance, repayment - payment of a debt or obligation
token payment - a small payment made in acknowledgement of an obligation
penalty - a payment required for not fulfilling a contract
pittance - an inadequate payment; "they work all day for a mere pittance"
insurance premium, premium - payment for insurance
installment - a payment of part of a debt; usually paid at regular intervals
down payment, deposit - a partial payment made at the time of purchase; the balance to be paid later
satisfaction - (law) the payment of a debt or fulfillment of an obligation; "the full and final satisfaction of the claim"
deferred payment, credit - arrangement for deferred payment for goods and services
immediate payment, cash - prompt payment for goods or services in currency or by check
nonpayment, nonremittal, default - loss resulting from failure of a debt to be paid
2.payment - the act of paying money
commerce, commercialism, mercantilism - transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
amortisation, amortization - payment of an obligation in a series of installments or transfers
fee splitting - payment (usually by doctors or lawyers) of part of the fee in return for the referral
overpayment - the act of paying too much
prepayment - payment in advance
ransom - payment for the release of someone
repayment, refund - the act of returning money received previously
remuneration - the act of paying for goods or services or to recompense for losses; "adequate remuneration for his work"
rendering - giving in acknowledgment of obligation
outlay, spending, disbursal, disbursement - the act of spending or disbursing money
tribute - payment by one nation for protection by another
underpayment - the act of paying less than required
evasion, nonpayment - the deliberate act of failing to pay money; "his evasion of all his creditors"; "he was indicted for nonpayment"
3.payment - an act of requiting; returning in kind
getting even, paying back, return - a reciprocal group action; "in return we gave them as good as we got"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

payment

noun
1. remittance, advance, deposit, premium, portion, instalment a deposit of £50, followed by three monthly payments of £15
2. settlement, paying, discharge, outlay, remittance, defrayal He sought payment of a sum which he claimed was owed to him.
3. wages, fee, reward, hire, remuneration It is reasonable to expect proper payment for this work.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

payment

noun
Something given in exchange for goods or services rendered:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
دَفْعدَفْعِدَفْعَه، مَبْلَغ
platbasplátkaodměna
betalingafdrag
maksu
plaćanje
fizetségkifizetés
bayar
borgungreiîsla, greiîsluupphæî
支払い
지급
plačilo
betalning
การจ่ายเงิน
sự thanh toán

payment

[ˈpeɪmənt]
A. N
1. [of salary, debt, invoice] → pago m; (for services) → remuneración f
payment of this invoice is now dueya hay que hacer efectivo el pago de esta factura
I don't expect payment for my helpno espero que me paguen por mi ayudano espero remuneración por mi ayuda
as payment for your helpcomo pago por tu ayuda
in payment for/ofen pago por/de
to make a paymentefectuar un pago
to make a payment into one's accounthacer un depósito or (Sp) un ingreso en cuenta
on payment of £5mediante pago de cinco libras, pagando cinco libras
to present sth for paymentpresentar algo para el cobro
see also advance D
see also kind B2
see also maintenance B
2. (= instalment) → plazo m
ten monthly payments of £50diez plazos mensuales or diez mensualidades de 50 libras
to fall behind with one's/the paymentsatrasarse en los pagos
to keep up one's/the paymentsmantenerse al día con los pagos
3. (fig) (= reward) → recompensa f, retribución f
a stream of abuse was the only payment he receivedla única recompensa or retribución que recibió fue una sarta de insultos
B. CPD payment card Ntarjeta f de pago
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

payment

[ˈpeɪmənt]
n
[money, sum] → paiement m
to demand payment for sth → exiger d'être payé(e) pour qch
Players now demand payment for interviews → Désormais, les joueurs exigent d'être payés pour les interviews.
in payment for sth → en règlement de qch
to make a payment → effectuer un paiement
payment by instalments → paiement par versements échelonnés
monthly payment → mensualité f
deferred payment → paiement m différé
[bill] → règlement m
[deposit, cheque] → versement m
(= instalment) → versement m
to keep up the payments on sth → continuer à rembourser qch
on payment of £5 → pour 5 livres advance payment
modif [method, option, system, plan] → de paiementpayment card ncarte f de paiementpayment holiday nremboursements mpl différés
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

payment

n (= paying) (of person)Bezahlung f, → Entlohnung f; (of bill, instalment etc)Bezahlung f, → Begleichung f; (of debt, mortgage)Abtragung f, → Rückzahlung f; (of interest, bank charge etc)Zahlung f; (= sum paid)Zahlung f; (fig: = reward) → Belohnung f; three monthly paymentsdrei Monatsraten; in payment of a debt/billin Begleichung einer Schuld/Rechnung; as or in payment for goods/his servicesals Bezahlung für or von Waren/für seine Dienste; to accept something as or in payment (for …)etw in Begleichung/als Bezahlung (für …) annehmen; on payment ofbei Begleichung/Bezahlung von; without payment (= free)umsonst; to make a paymenteine Zahlung leisten; to make a payment on somethingeine Rate für etw zahlen; to present something for paymentetw zur Zahlung vorlegen; to stop paymentsdie Zahlungen pleinstellen; to stop payment of a cheque (Brit) or check (US) → einen Scheck sperren
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

payment

[ˈpeɪmənt] n (gen) → pagamento; (of debt, account, interest) → saldo, pagamento (fig) (reward) → ricompensa
advance payment (part sum) → anticipo, acconto (total sum) → pagamento anticipato
deferred payment, payment by instalments → pagamento dilazionato or a rate
payment in full → (pagamento a) saldo
payment on account → acconto
payment by results → premio di produzione
in payment of (sum owed) → come saldo di
in payment for, as payment for (goods) → come pagamento di (help, efforts, kindness) → in cambio di, come ricompensa per
on payment of £5 → dietro pagamento di 5 sterline
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

pay

(pei) past tense, past participle paid verb
1. to give (money) to (someone) in exchange for goods, services etc. He paid $5 for the book.
2. to return (money that is owed). It's time you paid your debts.
3. to suffer punishment (for). You'll pay for that remark!
4. to be useful or profitable (to). Crime doesn't pay.
5. to give (attention, homage, respect etc). Pay attention!; to pay one's respects.
noun
money given or received for work etc; wages. How much pay do you get?
ˈpayable adjective
which may be or must be paid. The account is payable at the end of the month.
payˈee noun
a person to whom money is (to be) paid.
ˈpayment noun
1. money etc paid. The TV can be paid for in ten weekly payments.
2. the act of paying. He gave me a book in payment for my kindness.
ˈpay-packet noun
an envelope containing a person's wages. The manager handed out the pay-packets.
ˈpay-roll noun
1. a list of all the workers in a factory etc. We have 450 people on the pay-roll.
2. the total amount of money to be paid to all the workers. The thieves stole the pay-roll.
pay back
1. to give back (to someone something that one has borrowed). I'll pay you back as soon as I can.
2. to punish. I'll pay you back for that!
pay off
1. to pay in full and discharge (workers) because they are no longer needed. Hundreds of steel-workers have been paid off.
2. to have good results. His hard work paid off.
pay up
to give (money) to someone, eg in order to pay a debt. You have three days to pay up (= You must pay up within three days).
put paid to
to prevent a person from doing (something he planned or wanted to do). The rain put paid to our visit to the zoo.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

payment

دَفْعِ platba betaling Zahlung πληρωμή pago maksu paiement plaćanje pagamento 支払い 지급 betaling betaling zapłata pagamento платеж betalning การจ่ายเงิน ödeme sự thanh toán 付款
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

payment

n. pago.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
He made great laughter, and would not give payment. I went to the medicine-man, what you call missionary, and had large talk about the bad water and the payment that should be mine.
I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities; for my mother was clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated servants by my father's will, and it is amazing how disagreeable she found it.
Some of them, either less impressed with the importance of national credit, or because their citizens have little, if any, immediate interest in the question, feel an indifference, if not a repugnance, to the payment of the domestic debt at any rate.
Morrel of my desire to have these payments punctually, and he has been here within the last half-hour to tell me that if his ship, the Pharaon, did not come into port on the 15th, he would be wholly unable to make this payment."
So-and-So, and is not quite certain whether a payment of five hundred pounds has been made within the last week to his account.
And when he had got all she had, he healed her and demanded the promised payment. The Old Woman, when she recovered her sight and saw none of her goods in her house, would give him nothing.
"Helped by the kindness of my friend, I have arranged to have a cabin kept in reserve, on payment of a small deposit.
The governor sent me word that my servant should be restored to me upon payment of sixty piastres; and being answered by me that I had not a penny for myself, and therefore could not pay sixty piastres to redeem my servant, he informed me by a renegade Jew, who negotiated the whole affair, that either I must produce the money or receive a hundred blows of the battoon.
The merchant would not give more, especially as Darya Alexandrovna, for the first time that winter insisting on her right to her own property, had refused to sign the receipt for the payment of the last third of the forest.
Now, choose betwixt such a scorching bed and the payment of a thousand pounds of silver; for, by the head of my father, thou hast no other option.''
"I have been under a mistake all this time," answered Don Quixote, "for in truth I thought it was a castle, and not a bad one; but since it appears that it is not a castle but an inn, all that can be done now is that you should excuse the payment, for I cannot contravene the rule of knights-errant, of whom I know as a fact (and up to the present I have read nothing to the contrary) that they never paid for lodging or anything else in the inn where they might be; for any hospitality that might be offered them is their due by law and right in return for the insufferable toil they endure in seeking adventures by night and by day, in summer and in winter, on foot and on horseback, in hunger and thirst, cold and heat, exposed to all the inclemencies of heaven and all the hardships of earth."
To-day, however, is the thirty-first of May, and he has not been yet, and to-morrow, at midday, the payment falls due; if, therefore, I don't pay to-morrow, those gentlemen can, by the terms of the contract, break off the bargain; I shall be stripped of everything; I shall have worked for three years, and given two hundred and fifty thousand francs for nothing, absolutely for nothing at all, dear M.