pay the freight

present singular third person pays the freight · participle present paying the freight · participle past paid the freight · past paid the freight

1. To pay for the cost of transport.
2. idiomaticTo bear the cost.

   McColl was the lawyer of choice for those who could pay the freight.

   2000, G. M. Ford, Last Ditch, page 62

   2 more examples

   I don't want to pay the freight on the kind of conspicuous consumption that thrives on Mercedes or Jaguars.

   1990, J. A. Jance, Minor in Possession, page 168

   Stores that were large enough to pay the freight hired their own in-house detectives and security, but lots of companies were far too small to handle that kind of expense on a full-time basis.

   1997, J. A. Jance, Name Withheld, page 58