SHELL OUT Definition & Meaning

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shell out

verb

informal.
adverb to pay out or hand over (money)

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of shell out¹

C19: from shell (in the sense: to remove from a pod or (figuratively) a purse)

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Idioms and Phrases

Pay, hand over, as in We had to shell out $1,000 for auto repairs . This expression transfers taking a seed such as a pea or nut out of its pod or shell to taking money out of one's pocket. [ Colloquial ; c. 1800]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But the price tag of over £200 - more than double that of the original handheld - sparked consternation amongst fans who weren't willing to shell out so much for it.

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Olympic athletes, going for gold can also mean going broke as they shell out thousands of dollars for elite coaching and equipment while forgoing employment to train around the clock.

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Attendees, some who shelled out more than $10,000 for tickets, instead were met with canceled shows, tents that struggled to withstand stormy conditions and sad cheese sandwiches.

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If you want quicker results, the state should shell out more money to pay for it.

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"Getting some money back is better than nothing - but it's a slap in the face," Denise Hudson, who shelled out nearly £2,500, said.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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