French Expressions with Payer

The French verb payer literally means "to pay" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to fob someone off with empty promises, take a risk, make sacrifices, and more with this list of expressions with payer.

payer à la pièce
to pay for piecework / by the piece

payer à l'heure
to pay by the hour

payer comptant / en espèces
to pay cash

payer d'audace
to take a risk

payer de mine
to look good, nice

payer de sa personne
to make sacrifices

payer de sa poche
to pay out of one's own pocket

payer le déplacement
to pay traveling expenses

payer en nature
to pay in kind

payer par chèque
to pay by check

payer les pots cassés / la casse
- to pay for the damage
- to pick up the pieces

payer pour quelqu'un
- to pay for someone
- to pick up the pieces

payer pour le savoir
to learn something the hard way

payer quelque chose à quelqu'un (informal)
to buy something for someone

payer quelqu'un de paroles / promesses
to fob s.o. off with empty words / promises

payer ses dettes / impôts
to pay one's debts / taxes

payer le travail
to pay for the work


se payer (informal)
to treat oneself to

se payer la tête de quelqu'un
- to make fun of someone
- to trick someone


C'est moi qui paie.
It's on me / My treat.

faire payer ___ à quelqu'un pour quelque chose
to charge s.o. ___ for s.t.

Il me le paiera !
He'll pay for this!

Je ne suis pas payé pour ça. (informal)
That's not what I'm paid for.

Tout se paie
Everything has its price


congés payés
paid vacation

travail bien / mal payé
well- / poorly-paid work


Payer conjugations