pony up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Also seen as: poney up

Meaning · English

To pay (usually a bill, debt or due).

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Every man, save Silvy, vociferously swore that he had ponied up his "quarter:" whereupon the landlady observed that Silvy the less had not paid his reckoning.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “pony up” mean?

To pay (usually a bill, debt or due).

Is “pony up” formal or informal?

pony up is generally slang.