stump up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “stump up” mean?
To pay money, often reluctantly or when you would rather not.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To pay money, often reluctantly or when you would rather not.
To provide a sum of money, especially a large or required one, that is viewed as an imposition or burden.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English, but well-understood and used in American English. 'Cough up' is a close American informal equivalent.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a connotation of being forced or pressured to pay. In British English, it is a standard informal idiom.
Frequency
High frequency in UK informal speech; medium-low frequency in US speech.
Grammar
How to Use “stump up” in a Sentence
[Someone] stumps up [money] (for [something])[Someone] is stumped up for [something] (passive rare)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stump up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You'll all have to stump up a tenner for the taxi.
- I had to stump up for the new office coffee machine.
American English
- He finally stumped up the cash for the concert tickets.
- If you want it, you'll have to stump up the money yourself.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal discussions about budgets, cost-sharing, or client payments (e.g., 'The client finally stumped up the outstanding fee').
Academic
Rare, except in informal speech among academics.
Everyday
Common in discussions about shared meals, group gifts, household expenses, or tickets.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stump up”
- Using it in formal writing. Confusing it with 'stump' meaning to confuse (e.g., 'The question stumped me').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and can sound blunt or impatient, but it is not inherently rude. Tone and context matter.
Yes, it can be used for any amount, but it often implies a sum that feels significant or burdensome to the payer.
They are very similar. 'Stump up' often emphasises the initial act of producing the money, sometimes reluctantly. 'Pay up' often emphasises the completion of an owed payment, sometimes under pressure.
Yes, informally in UK English (e.g., 'a £20 stump-up'), but it's less common than the verb.
To pay money, often reluctantly or when you would rather not.
Stump up is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Stump up: in British English it is pronounced /stʌmp ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /stəmp ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Stump up the readies' (UK, informal for cash).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an old tree STUMP. To remove it, you must UP your offer and pay the reluctant gardener more cash.
Conceptual Metaphor
PAYING IS PRODUCING/EXTRACTING SOMETHING (FROM A CONTAINER). The 'stump' metaphorically holds the money, and 'up' implies bringing it out, possibly with effort.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'stump up' LEAST appropriate?