"pay up" 是一个及物动词短语(有时可省略宾语,需上下文支撑),主要意思是:
强调“把该付的钱全部、及时地交出来”,常带有催促、要求对方履行支付义务的语气(尤其针对拖延付款的情况)。
1、 主语:通常是欠款方/应付款的人/机构(如债务人、租客、客户等)。
2、 宾语:可接具体的“款项、费用”(如 rent/rent money 房租、debt 债务、fine 罚款等),或用“what you owe”(你欠的钱)指代。
3、 常见结构:
pay up + 宾语:直接跟需付清的款项。
pay up (to sb.):若上下文明确,可省略宾语(默认“欠对方的钱”)。
pay up what...:用从句说明具体欠款内容。
1、 催促付款(最常见场景):
I’ve reminded you three times—pay up the $200 you owe me!
(我提醒你三次了——把欠我的200美元付清!)
The restaurant owner told the deadbeat customer to pay up or leave.
(餐馆老板让那个赖账的顾客要么付清钱,要么走人。)
2、 要求全额支付(强调“不拖欠”):
The landlord said we have to pay up the rent by Friday or we’ll be evicted.
(房东说我们必须周五前付清房租,否则会被赶走。)
The company was ordered by the court to pay up $50,000 in damages.
(公司被法院勒令支付5万美元的赔偿金。)
3、 省略宾语(上下文明确时):
“When are you going to pay up?” she asked angrily.
(“你什么时候才会付清?”她生气地问。)
Just pay up—I don’t have time to argue with you.
(赶紧付清——我没时间和你争论。)
pay up vs. pay off:
"pay up" 侧重“及时/催促付清”(针对当前应付款,可能带有不满);
"pay off" 侧重“最终还清(全部债务)”(强调完成状态,如还清房贷:pay off the mortgage)。
例:He finally paid off his student loans after 10 years.(他用10年还清了学生贷款。)
He refused to pay up the $50 he borrowed last month.(他拒绝付清上个月借的50美元。)
总结:"pay up" 是一个带催促感的支付短语,核心是“让对方把该给的钱全部交出来”,常见于要求清偿欠款、房租、罚款等场景。