balance the books: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘balance the books’ mean?
The idiom "balance the books" means to reconcile or make financial records accurate by ensuring that debits equal credits.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "in the money" means to be in a financially successful or prosperous situation.
The idiom "happy medium" refers to finding a balance or compromise between two extremes or conflicting ideas.
The idiom "grand total" means the final sum or amount, usually of a series of numbers or quantities, representing the total or overall result.
The idiom "go halves" means to share the cost or responsibility of something equally with someone else.
The idiom "go halfsies" means to split the cost or share something equally between two people.
The idiom "get even" means to retaliate or seek revenge for a wrong or injustice that has been done to oneself. It implies a desire to balance the scales and restore fairness or justice.
The idiom "foot the bill" means to pay for something, often used when one person pays the entire cost of an expense or bill.
The idiom "fit the bill" means to be suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose or requirement.
The idiom "fill the bill" means to meet someone's requirements or needs, especially when referring to a specific task or role.
The idiom "fair share" means an equal or appropriate portion of something, often used in the context of dividing resources or responsibilities. It implies fairness and just distribution.
Cracking the Code
Balance the books is an idiom that comes from accounting. It means to ensure that a company's financial records are accurate and in balance. This involves reconciling all transactions and making sure that the debits and credits match up. But the idiom is not just limited to accounting; it is also used in other contexts to mean bringing things into order and fairness.
The origin of the idiom can be traced back to the early 19th century. Back then, it was mainly used in the accounting field to refer to the process of reconciling financial records. Over time, it started to be used metaphorically to mean resolving conflicts, settling accounts, or achieving fairness in various situations. Today, it is commonly used in business and financial contexts, as well as in everyday conversations.
When people talk about balancing the books, they are often referring to the need to address any imbalances or discrepancies. This could be in a financial context, where someone needs to resolve discrepancies in their financial records. Or it could be in a non-financial context, where someone needs to settle a disagreement or make adjustments to achieve fairness.
Another related idiom is "balance out." This means to equalize or bring things into equilibrium. When used in the context of balancing the books, it could mean resolving any discrepancies or imbalances in a company's financial records to achieve a state of equilibrium.
Another related idiom is "break even." This means to reach a point where income equals expenses. When used in the context of balancing the books, it could mean ensuring that a company's income covers its expenses, thus achieving a state of financial equilibrium.
Yet another related idiom is "balancing act." This means to manage multiple tasks or responsibilities simultaneously. When used in the context of balancing the books, it could refer to the challenge of reconciling financial records while also managing other aspects of a company's operations.
Additionally, "cash up" is another related idiom. It means to reconcile cash receipts and payments to ensure that they accurately reflect the financial records. When used in the context of balancing the books, it could refer to the act of reconciling cash transactions to achieve financial accuracy.
Lastly, "add up" is another related idiom. It means to make sense or be logical. When used in the context of balancing the books, it could mean ensuring that all the numbers and calculations in the financial records add up correctly to achieve accuracy.
The idiom "balance the books" is rooted in accounting but has evolved to have a broader meaning. It is now commonly used to refer to bringing things into order and fairness in various contexts. There are also several related idioms, such as "balance out," "break even," "balancing act," "cash up," and "add up," that are connected to the idea of balancing the books. These idioms all convey the notion of resolving discrepancies, achieving fairness, and maintaining accuracy, whether in accounting or in other areas of life.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "balance the books" can be used in a sentence:
- 1. The accountant worked late into the night to balance the books for the company.
- 2. It took several weeks of careful auditing to balance the books and resolve all the financial discrepancies.
- 3. The small business owner hired a professional bookkeeper to help her balance the books more accurately.
More "Finance" idioms
