- with obj. give (someone) money that is due for work done, goods received, or a debt incurred付钱给（某人）; 偿还（债务）：
with obj. and infinitive the traveller was able to pay a guide to show him across这个游客雇得起一个导游带他到处游览
no obj. TV licences can be paid for by direct debit.电视收看许可证可以通过直接借记方式付款。
- give (a sum of money) in exchange for goods or work done or in discharge of a debt付费, 支付（货款）; 清偿, 偿还（债务）：
the company was rumoured to have paid 450p a share
有谣传说该公司每股支付了450便士
with two objs a museum paid him a four-figure sum for it.一家博物馆为此向他支付了四位数金额。
- hand over or transfer the amount due of (a debt, wages, etc.) to someone将（应付的债款、工资等）交给, 转交：
bonuses were paid to savers whose policies completed their full term.
红利被支付给那些保险单到期的储户。
- (of work, an investment, etc.) yield or provide someone with (a specified sum of money)（投资等）产生…利润; （工作等）有…报酬：
jobs that pay $5 or $6 an hour.
每小时5或6美元报酬的工作。
- no obj.(of a business, undertaking, or an attitude) be profitable or advantageous to someone（生意、事业或看法）对某人有益（或有利）：
crime doesn't pay
犯罪是得不偿失的
with infinitive it pays to choose varieties carefully.仔细挑选各种种类是有好处的。
- no obj. suffer a loss or other misfortune as a consequence of an action付出代价, 受到惩罚：
the destroyer would have to pay with his life.
那个破坏者将不得不付出生命的代价。
- with obj. give what is due or deserved to (someone); reward or punish报偿; 奖赏, 惩罚：
it was his way of paying out Maguire for giving him the push.
这是他对马圭尔解雇他的回敬方式。
- with two objs give or bestow (attention, respect, or a compliment) on (someone)（向某人）予以 （关注）, 致以（问候）, 表达（敬意）：
no one paid them any attention.
没人注意他们。
- make (a visit or a call) to (someone)访问（某人） ; 打电话给（某人）：
she has been prevailed upon to pay us a visit.
她已经被说服来看看我们。
- the money paid to someone for regular work工资, 薪金：
those working on contract may receive higher rates of pay.
按合同工作的人可能会得到更高的报酬。
he who pays the piper calls the tune
- proverb the person who provides the money for something has the right to determine how it's spent〈谚〉谁出钱谁做主; 谁承担费用谁有决定权。
in the pay of
- employed by受雇于。
pay one's compliments
pay court to
- 见COURT.
pay dearly
- obtain something at a high cost or great effort花大价钱（或努力）得到：
his master must have paid dearly for such a magnificent beast.
他的主人为这只了不起的动物一定花了不少钱。
- suffer for a misdemeanour or failure（因行为不端或失败而）遭受不幸; 付出巨大代价：
they paid dearly for wasting goalscoring opportunities.
他们因浪费了许多破门得分良机而付出了巨大代价。
pay one's dues
- 见DUE.
pay for itself
- (of an object or system) earn or save enough money to cover the cost of its purchase（物品, 系统）赚（或节省）下足以支付购买费用的钱款。
pay its（或one's）way
- (of an enterprise or person) earn enough to cover its or one's costs（企业）赢利以支付开销; （人）挣钱以支付费用。
pay one's last respects
- show respect towards a dead person by attending their funeral向（死者）告别。
pay one's respects
- make a polite visit to someone拜访, 拜望：
we went to pay our respects to the head lama.
我们前去拜望大喇嘛。
pay through the nose
- informal pay much more than a fair price〈非正式〉付费过高。
you pays your money and you takes your choice
- informal used to convey that there is little to choose between one alternative and another〈非正式〉无所选择, 无从选择。
payer
nounpay someone back
- repay a loan to someone偿付（借款）：
a regular amount was deducted from my wages to pay her back.
从我工资中扣固定数额的钱还她。
- figurative take revenge on someone〈喻〉报复：
he had left him out to pay him back for stealing his wife.
他把他排除在外, 以报复他拐走自己的妻子。
pay something back
- repay a loan to someone偿付（借款）：
the money should be paid back with interest
这笔钱应连本带利偿付
with two objs they did pay me back the money.他们确实把钱还给了我。
pay something in
- pay money into a bank account存钱（进银行户头）。
pay off
- informal (of a course of action) yield good results; succeed〈非正式〉（行动）取得好结果; 成功：
all the hard work I had done over the summer paid off.
整个夏天我所做的所有艰辛工作都有了好结果。
pay someone off
- dismiss someone with a final payment付清工资解雇：
when directors are fired, they should not be lavishly paid off.
当董事们被解雇时, 他们不应得到一大笔清算工资。
pay something off
- pay a debt in full偿清（借款）：
you may have saved up enough to pay off your second mortgage.
你可能已经攒足钱来偿清第二次抵押借款。
pay something out
- pay a large sum of money from funds under one's control（从某人控制的专款中）支付巨额款项：
insurers can refuse to pay out.
保险公司可以拒绝理赔。
- let out (a rope) by slackening it放开, 放松（绳索）：
I began paying out the nylon line.
我开始放出尼龙绳。
pay up （或pay something up）
- pay a debt in full还清, 全部付清借款：
you got ninety days to pay up the principal.
你有90天的时间来付清本金。