Foot the bill
Posted by ESC on October 16, 2001
In Reply to: Old sayings origin posted by Nikki on October 15, 2001
: origin of foot the bill
FOOT THE BILL - "simply means to sign your name at the foot or bottom of the bill. Obviously the one who 'foots the bill' assumes the responsibility for paying it." From the Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, New York, 1977, 1988).