shell out

British  

verb

1. informal (adverb) to pay out or hand over (money)

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shell out Idioms  

1. Pay, hand over, as in We had to shell out $1,000 for auto repairs. This expression transfers taking a seed such as a pea or nut out of its pod or shell to taking money out of one's pocket. [Colloquial; c. 1800]

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Etymology

Origin of shell out

C19: from _shell (in the sense: to remove from a pod or (figuratively) a purse)

Example Sentences

With the war in Iran restricting the oil market and sending prices up, U.S. customers will likely have to shell out more for airfare soon.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

To get a Starlink antenna on the black market, Iranians previously had to shell out around "$800 or $1,000" at the end of 2025, Ahmadian recalled, a prohibitive amount for many.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Youth sports have grown into a $40-billion dollar per year industry, where eager parents shell out for private coaches, off-season practice, and travel leagues, in the hopes of giving their child a competitive edge.

From Slate • Feb. 16, 2026

Your experience is, perhaps, a reminder of when to opt for a budget airline and when to shell out for a carrier that operates more aircraft more frequently.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

I decided not to shell out any of my hard-earned cash on cheap memorabilia...though celebrating with transfat was tempting.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi