phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb
pay back
to repay a debt
What it means
To return money that you borrowed, or to do something bad to someone in revenge for what they did to you. The literal financial meaning is the most common use.
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Examples
- I'll pay you back as soon as I get my salary on Friday.
- He paid back every penny of the loan within two years.
- She wanted to pay him back for embarrassing her in public.
- Thanks for covering dinner; I'll pay you back tomorrow.
Where it comes from
Separable: 'pay him back' or 'pay back the loan' both work. The noun form 'payback' is widely used for revenge, as in 'payback time'.
Related phrasal verbs
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