PhrasesHub

Pony up

    Definitions

      • to pay or contribute money
        to urge someone to pay or contribute money, especially when they are reluctant to do so

      • to fulfill a responsibility or obligation
        to encourage someone to fulfill their obligation or responsibility, especially when they are hesitant to do so

    Examples of Pony up

    • John's friend forgot to pay back the $200 he borrowed last month. John kept reminding him to "pony up" and finally, his friend handed over the money.

      "Pony up" is a colloquial phrase that means to pay what is owed or to contribute one's fair share. In this example, John's friend avoided paying back the debt for a while, but John insisted that he "pony up" and finally, his friend paid him back.

    • The restaurant owners expected the patrons to "pony up" for the tips they received for the excellent service.

      In this scenario, "pony up" is used to mean that the restaurant owners anticipated the patrons to fulfill their obligation of tipping the waitstaff. The phrase "to pony up" here is used metaphorically since people usually do not understand "pony" in the context of tipping someone.

    • As the leader of the group, Jessica asked every member to "pony up" for the snacks they consumed during the trip, as she didn't want to bear the expenses alone.

      This usage of "pony up" indicates that Jessica urged each member to contribute for the snacks consumed during the trip. Since Jessica didn't want to shoulder the entire amount, she asked the group to "pony up" and equally split the cost.

    • The director demanded the actors to "pony up" with their best performance during the shooting of the movie.

      Here, "pony up" is used metaphorically to mean that the director required the actors to deliver their best effort during the movie shoot. The pronoun "it" in this usage is replaced by the verb "demanded" and the noun "performance" to convey the intended sense.

    • John needs $500 for his medical bills, so I told him to pony up.

      The idiom "pony up" means to pay one's debt or share of expenses. In this example, I am asking John to pay his share of $500 for his medical bills.

    • The team has been winning consistently, but they need to pony up in the next game.

      Here, "pony up" is used in a different context. It means for the team to perform, to give their best effort in the upcoming game.

    • The restaurant owner asked the customers to pony up for the extra fees they incurred due to the weather.

      In this example, "pony up" is used to mean that the customers should pay for the additional charges incurred due to bad weather, which caused the restaurant to incur extra expenses.

    • I told my friend that if he wants to continue borrowing money from me, then he'll have to pony up more interest next time.

      The idiom "pony up" can also mean paying an additional sum. Here, I am telling my friend that he must pay more interest the next time he borrows money from me.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "pony up" is commonly used to urge someone to pay or contribute money, or to fulfill a responsibility or obligation. It is often used in a casual or informal manner, and can be used in various situations where there is a reluctance to fulfill a financial obligation or responsibility.

    The phrase can also be used to convey a sense of urgency or insistence, and may be accompanied by a sense of frustration or impatience on the part of the speaker. Overall, "pony up" is a versatile idiom that can be used in a variety of contexts to encourage someone to fulfill their financial or moral obligations.

    Origin of "Pony up"

    The origins of the idiom "pony up" can be traced back to the American West, where it was commonly used in the context of gambling or betting. The term "pony" refers to a small horse, and in the context of gambling, it was used to refer to the smallest denomination of money that could be wagered.

    Over time, the term "pony up" evolved to mean paying or contributing money, and it became a widely used idiom in American English. The idiom has since been adopted in various other English-speaking countries, where it is used to urge someone to pay or contribute money, or to fulfill a responsibility or obligation. Examples of the idiom can be found in literature, movies, and everyday speech, highlighting its enduring popularity and relevance in modern English.