fill the bill: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘fill the bill’ mean?
The idiom "fill the bill" means to meet someone's requirements or needs, especially when referring to a specific task or role.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "top up" means to add or fill something up to its maximum level or capacity.
The idiom "tick all the boxes" means to satisfy all the necessary criteria or requirements for something.
The idiom "take care of business" means to handle or complete necessary tasks or responsibilities efficiently and effectively.
The idiom "stand in the gap" means to take on a position of responsibility or to fill a role when there is a need or absence. It implies offering support or protection in a challenging situation.
The idiom "pay the bills" means to take care of one's financial responsibilities or obligations.
The idiom "measure up" means to be equal to or reach a certain standard or expectation.
The idiom "make good on" means to fulfill or carry out a promise or commitment.
The idiom "make ends meet" means to manage financially with the income one has, even if it is barely enough to cover expenses.
The idiom "hold up one's end" means to fulfill one's responsibilities or contribute one's fair share in a group or partnership.
The idiom "get one's fill" means to have enough of something or to satisfy one's desire or appetite for something, usually to the point of feeling full or content.
Explaining its Usage
The idiom "fit the bill" is closely related to "fill the bill". Both phrases share the same meaning and can be used interchangeably to express the idea of someone or something meeting the requirements or expectations for a particular situation or purpose.
"fill in" is another idiom that is related to "fill the bill". While "fill the bill" refers to someone or something fitting the requirements or expectations, "fill in" is used to describe the act of temporarily taking someone's place or performing their duties while they are absent or unable to do so. For example, if a teacher is sick and unable to come to school, a substitute teacher could "fill in" for them.
"fill in the blank" is a phrase used in education and testing to refer to the act of completing a sentence or statement by adding missing information. This idiom is not directly related to "fill the bill", but it shares a similar concept of filling or completing something.
"pay the bills" is another idiom that is not directly related to "fill the bill", but it is worth mentioning as it includes the word "bill". This phrase is used to refer to the act of earning money to cover the expenses or obligations of daily life, such as paying for utilities, rent, or other bills.
"fill someone's shoes" is a phrase that is related to the concept of someone taking over or replacing another person in a role or position. It is commonly used to describe the act of stepping into someone's role or responsibilities when they are no longer able to fulfill them. For example, when a manager retires, a new employee may be hired to "fill their shoes" and take on their duties.
To summarize, the idiom "fill the bill" is closely related to "fit the bill" and both phrases indicate that someone or something meets the requirements or expectations for a particular situation or purpose. Additionally, "fill in" is used to describe temporarily taking someone's place, while "fill in the blank" refers to completing a sentence or statement. "Pay the bills" is a phrase that signifies earning money to cover expenses, and "fill someone's shoes" describes the act of taking over someone's role or responsibilities. These related idioms offer various ways to express fitting or completing tasks, roles, or obligations in the English language.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "fill the bill" can be used in a sentence:
- The new employee has excellent qualifications and experience, so she really fills the bill for the position.
- We need a big table for our dinner party, and this one should fill the bill.
- I was looking for a funny movie to watch, and this comedy really filled the bill.
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