On Thu, 4 Sep 2003, Philip Hart wrote: > >While I'm thinking about _TLoCB_, I note that "paying the shot" >appears again - I was a bit mystified when Teldra said this in >_Issola_. Is this regional or standard English I just never met? > Hmm. Google knows much - 99 hits on "paying the shot", and the first one is: "Paying the shot" soon came to be a common phrase. Yes, and I knew it would still be passing men's lips, away down in the nineteenth century, yet none would suspect how and when it originated. http://www.literaturepage.com/read/aconnecticutyankee-249.html I'd guess it was more common in Twain's Missouri, perhaps. Or maybe it's more New England idiom? There's also 261 hits on "pay the shot" : http://home.t-online.de/home/toni.goeller/idiom_wm/id459.htm pay the shot == pay the whole bill, pay for everybody's ticket etc. http://www.englishcivilwar.com/articles_jabberment.html Seems to be claiming that it's C17th English slang, which has many other amusing phrases. To swallow a hare - to get exceedingly drunk In the gun - tipsy Jugbitten - tipsy Merry go down - very strong ale Overseen - drunk Pay the shot - pay the bill Pot walk - a drinking session Wamblety - overhung