you pays your money and you takes your choice

proverb

Everyone can make their own individual decisions.

“You can get there by bus, or train, or taxi. Whatever. You pays your money and you takes your choice.”

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Meanings

proverb

alternative you pays your nickel and you takes your choice

  1. Everyone can make their own individual decisions.

    You can get there by bus, or train, or taxi. Whatever. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

    1 more example

    Showman. On your right you will perceive a Prime Minister a Bolishing of hisself. And over your left is another Prime Minister a Bolishing of the Corn-Laws. / Master John Bull. But which is the Prime Minister? / Showman. Which ever you please, my little dear. You pays your money, and you takes your choice.

    1846, “THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.[cartoon]”, in Punch, page 17
Cite this entry
APA

you pays your money and you takes your choice. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20pays%20your%20money%20and%20you%20takes%20your%20choice

MLA

“you pays your money and you takes your choice.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20pays%20your%20money%20and%20you%20takes%20your%20choice. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “you pays your money and you takes your choice,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20pays%20your%20money%20and%20you%20takes%20your%20choice.

Source: you pays your money and you takes your choice on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.