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Understanding the Idiom: "pay a visit" - Meaning, Origins, and Usage

The meaning of “pay a visit”.

“Pay a visit” means to go and see someone for a short period of time. It could be to check on their well-being or simply to catch up with them. The phrase is often used when referring to visiting friends or family members, but it can also be used in professional settings such as visiting clients or colleagues.

Usage Examples

Here are some examples of how “pay a visit” can be used:

• I’m planning to pay a visit to my grandparents next weekend.
• The doctor advised me to pay a visit if my symptoms persist.
• We should pay a visit to our new neighbors and welcome them.

Origins and Historical Context of the Idiom “pay a visit”

The phrase “pay a visit” is an idiom that has been used for centuries to describe the act of visiting someone. This expression has its roots in Old English, where it was commonly used to refer to the act of paying tribute or homage to someone.

Over time, the meaning of this phrase evolved, and it began to be used more broadly to describe any type of social call or visit. Today, we use this idiom in many different contexts, from visiting friends and family members to making professional visits for business purposes.

Throughout history, paying visits has been an important part of human interaction. In ancient times, people would often travel long distances just to pay their respects or seek advice from respected leaders or scholars. As societies became more complex and interconnected over time, the practice of paying visits became even more common.

Today, we continue to value the importance of face-to-face interactions with others. Whether we are catching up with old friends or meeting new acquaintances for the first time, paying a visit remains an essential way for us to connect with one another on a personal level.

Usage and Variations of the Idiom “pay a visit”

When we want to see someone or something, we often use the idiom “pay a visit” . This phrase has many variations that can be used in different contexts. Let’s explore some of these variations and how they are commonly used.

One common variation is “make a visit” , which has the same meaning as “pay a visit”. Another variation is “drop by” or “drop in”, which implies a casual or unexpected visit. We can also say “call on” when referring to visiting someone at their home, office, or other location.

The idiom “pay a visit” is often used to describe visiting friends, family members, colleagues, or acquaintances. For example: “I’m going to pay a visit to my grandmother this weekend.” It can also be used in more formal situations such as business meetings: “The CEO paid a surprise visit to our office yesterday.”

“Drop by” and its variations are commonly used when referring to informal visits with friends or acquaintances: “I’m going to drop by Sarah’s house after work today.” Similarly, we might say: “I just wanted to drop in and say hello.”

“Call on” is typically reserved for more formal occasions such as job interviews or professional meetings: “I need to call on Mr. Smith at his office tomorrow.” However, it can also be used in everyday conversation when referring to visiting someone’s home: “We’re planning on calling on our neighbors this weekend.”

Synonyms, Antonyms, and Cultural Insights for the Idiom “pay a visit”

Instead of saying “pay a visit” , you could use phrases like “drop by”, “stop in”, or “pop in”. These expressions convey the same meaning but with different nuances. For example, if you say you’re going to “drop by” someone’s house, it implies that your visit will be brief and casual. On the other hand, if you say you’re going to “stop in”, it suggests that your visit might be longer or more formal.

Antonyms for “pay a visit” include phrases like “avoid”, “ignore”, or simply not visiting at all. Of course, these expressions have negative connotations and are not appropriate when talking about friendly visits.

Culturally speaking, paying visits is an important social custom in many countries around the world. In some cultures, such as Japan and Korea, it is customary to remove one’s shoes before entering someone’s home as a sign of respect. In other cultures, such as Italy and Spain, it is common to bring small gifts or treats when visiting friends or family members.

Practical Exercises for the Idiom “pay a visit”

Exercise 1: fill in the blanks.

In this exercise, you will need to fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the given options:

• It’s been a while since I last _______ my grandparents.
• We decided to _______ our friends who live across town.
• I’m planning to _______ my old school teacher next week.

Exercise 2: Create sentences

In this exercise, you will need to create sentences using “pay a visit” in different contexts:

• Create a sentence using “pay a visit” when talking about visiting someone at their workplace.
• Create a sentence using “pay a visit” when talking about visiting someone who is sick or unwell.
• Create a sentence using “pay a visit” when talking about visiting an unfamiliar place for sightseeing purposes.

Exercise 3: Role-play activity

In this exercise, you will need to role-play different scenarios where you would use the idiom “pay a visit” . This could include situations such as visiting family members during holidays or dropping by someone’s house unexpectedly. You can practice with friends or family members and try out different variations of the idiom based on context and tone of conversation.

By practicing these exercises regularly, you’ll soon become more confident in using the idiom “pay a visit” in your everyday conversations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using the Idiom “pay a visit”

When using idiomatic expressions, it’s important to understand their meaning and usage in context. The idiom “pay a visit” is commonly used to describe visiting someone or somewhere, but there are some common mistakes that people make when using this expression.

Using the Wrong Preposition

One of the most common mistakes when using “pay a visit” is using the wrong preposition. The correct preposition to use with this idiom is “to”. For example, you can say “I’m going to pay a visit to my grandmother.” Using other prepositions like “at” or “in” would be incorrect and sound unnatural.

Misusing the Word Order

Another mistake people make with this idiom is misusing the word order. The correct order should be subject + verb + object. For example, you can say “I’m going to pay a visit to my friend.” Incorrectly saying something like “To my friend I’m going to pay a visit” would be grammatically incorrect and confusing.

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pay a visit to

Definition of pay a visit to

Examples of pay a visit to in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pay a visit to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near pay a visit to

pay attention to

Cite this Entry

“Pay a visit to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay%20a%20visit%20to. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.

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Idiom:  pay a visit

Meaning .

Idiom:  pay a visit to someone/something (pay someone/something a visit)

• to go see someone or something

Example sentences

• I haven’t heard from my father in two weeks so I’m going to pay him a visit and make sure he’s okay.
• There are very few doctors who will pay a visit to patients' homes these days.
• It's been a few months since we've seen my mother-in-law so we need to pay a visit this weekend.
• My best friend was in town and decided to pay a visit but we were at the shopping mall so I missed her.
• Let's pay a visit to the cemetery on Veterans Day and lay down some flowers at my grandfather's grave.
• You'll be paying the dentist a visit  soon if you don't stop drinking so many sodas and eating those sugary candies.
• If you have a chance to pay a visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial while you're in the Dakotas you will not regret it.
• A couple of police officers paid our office a visit this afternoon and I'm dying to know what they questioned my boss about.
• Every Memorial Day we pay a visit to my uncle's grave to pay our respects.
• come around

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pay a visit

Discover more, idioms and phrases.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

pay a visit

• 1.1 Pronunciation
• 1.2.1 Translations

Pronunciation

pay a visit ( third-person singular simple present pays a visit , present participle paying a visit , simple past and past participle paid a visit )

• 2020 September 25, Reuters Staff, “Thai republican hashtag trends after constitution change delayed”, in Reuters ‎ [1] , Reuters, retrieved 2020-09-25 : Some protesters say the constitution also gives too much power to the king, who paid a rare visit to Thailand on Thursday for ceremonies honouring his grandfather, Prince Mahidol Adulyadej. The king has spent most of his time in Europe since taking the throne nearly four years ago.
• 2022 November 16, Paul Bigland, “From rural branches to high-speed arteries”, in RAIL , number 970 , page 55 : Brighton station is awash with people paying a visit to the seaside.
• ( idiomatic , euphemistic ) To go to the toilet .

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Meaning of pay a visit in English

Pay a visit, pay someone a visit | intermediate english, pay someone a visit.

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If you are left to sink or swim, you are given no help so that you succeed or fail completely by your own efforts.

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• pay a visit to

verb as in visit

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• come around
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Related words.

Words related to pay a visit to are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word pay a visit to . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

verb as in pay a visit

verb as in be a guest of

On this page you'll find 44 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to pay a visit to, such as: call, call on, frequent, hit, inspect, and play.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

Dreaming of moving to Italy? Tuscany will pay you up to $32,000 to buy a home in a village

• The Tuscany Region is offering between 10,000 euros and 30,000 euros to those willing to move to a Tuscan town with 5,000 residents or less.
• The payment is meant to go toward the purchase of the home and renovation costs, but cannot exceed more than half of the home’s price.
• The application window opened June 12 and ends on July 27 at 1 p.m. local Tuscan time.

If you've been dreaming about living out your own “Under the Tuscan Sun,” now’s your chance. The rustic Italian region, known for wine and rolling hills, recently announced it will pay people to move to its rural towns.

Called the “Residenzialità in Montagna 2024” – which translates to “Residentiality in the Mountains 2024” – the new initiative by the Tuscany Region offers between 10,000 euros (about $10,715.10) and 30,000 euros (about $32,145.30) to those willing to move to a Tuscan town with 5,000 residents or less. 

The payment is meant to go toward the purchase of the home and renovation costs but cannot exceed more than half of the home’s price. The home will also need to become a residence or habitual residence, not just a vacation home. 

The initiative's launch is “to favor and encourage the repopulation and socio-economic revitalization of mountain areas, acting in contrast to the marginalization of these areas,” according to the application’s official website . 

Want to go to Europe this summer? Here are some expert tips for flights, destinations

Learn more: Best travel insurance

A 2016 study by Italy's Ministry of Environment found 5,627 towns across the country had fewer than 5,000 residents, noted as “perilously depopulated.” Due to dwindling populations, just under half of those towns were at risk of not being able to survive the next 25 years. The pandemic exacerbated the problem, shrinking Italy’s entire population by 384,000 in 2021 – the highest amount in nearly a century, according to a 2021 report by the Pulitzer Center . 

Potential residents have their choice of 76 Italian towns that qualify for the population maximum, according to 2022 data by the Italian National Institute of Statistics. The town with the lowest number of inhabitants with just 510, Careggine dates back to 720 A.D. and sits on the slopes of Monte Sumbra along the eastern side of the Alps, making for an ideal location for skiers. 

A short train ride from Florence, the ancient village of San Casciano dei Bagni is home to 1,495 people, and known for its healing – or at least very relaxing – thermal baths. Or perhaps art aficionados want to live in the birthplace of Michelangelo, which would be the eponymous village of Caprese Michelangelo . Its surrounding region also boasts a rich artistic heritage. 

The region said it had allotted a total of 2,800,000 euros (about $3,000,524) to hand out via the initiative. 

Unfortunately, you’ll need to move quickly to take advantage of the initiative: the application window opened on June 12 and ends on July 27 at 1 p.m. local Tuscan time. 

There are also some strict requirements: Americans must apply for a residence permit “lasting no less than 10 years,” register as residents in an Italian town or city and not already live in a mountain village. 

Applications can be completed online at the Tuscany Region website. 

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

Example sentences pay a visit

Just pay a visit to the link below.

Few politicians have dared to pay a visit to a concentration camp during their re-election campaign.

If you've been feeling low for more than a couple of weeks pay a visit to your doc.

Pay a visit to the newspaper editor and treat him to a knuckle sandwich?

Contact your local environmental health or planning department and ask it to pay a visit .

Definition of 'pay' pay

Definition of 'visit' visit

Cobuild collocations pay a visit.

Browse alphabetically pay a visit

• pay a supplier
• pay a visit
• pay a worker
• pay an allowance
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Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma opioid settlement, threatening billions of dollars for victims

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday blew up the massive bankruptcy reorganization of opioid maker Purdue Pharma, finding that the settlement inappropriately included legal protections for the Sackler family, meaning that billions of dollars secured for victims is now threatened.

The court on a 5-4 vote on nonideological lines ruled that the bankruptcy court did not have the authority to release the Sackler family members from legal claims made by opioid victims.

In aftermath of the decision, the Sackler family, Purdue Pharma and lawyers for the plaintiffs expressed hope that a new deal could quickly be reached.

As part of the original settlement, the family, which controlled the company, had agreed to pay $6 billion that could be used to settle opioid-related claims, but only in return for a complete release from any liability in future cases.

Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, said the Sacklers could have declared bankruptcy but instead sought to piggyback on the company's own bankruptcy proceedings in an effort to resolve pending legal claims.

"They obtained all this without securing the consent of those affected or placing anything approaching their total assets on the table for their creditors," Gorsuch wrote.

"Nothing in present law authorizes the Sackler discharge," he added.

Gorsuch was joined in the majority by three of his conservative colleagues and one liberal, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented, citing the impact of the decision on those who would benefit from the settlement.

"Today's decision is wrong on the law and devastating to the more than 100,000 opioid victims and their families," he wrote.

As a result of the ruling, "opioid victims are now deprived of the substantial monetary recovery that they long fought for and finally secured after years of litigation," he added.

Fellow conservative Chief Justice John Roberts joined Kavanaugh's dissent, as did liberal justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.

The ruling means settlement talks with the Sacklers would have to begin again, while the separate Purdue Pharma bankruptcy proceedings continue.

Purdue Pharma described the ruling as "heart-crushing" because of the impact on victims, but pledged to move forward with efforts to negotiate a new settlement.

"The decision does nothing to deter us from the twin goals of using settlement dollars for opioid abatement and turning the company into an engine for good," the statement said.

A statement issued by members of the Sackler family said they "remain hopeful about reaching a resolution that provides substantial resources to help combat a complex public health crisis."

"While we are confident that we would prevail in any future litigation given the profound misrepresentations about our families and the opioid crisis, we continue to believe that a swift negotiated agreement to provide billions of dollars for people and communities in need is the best way forward," they added.

Jayne Conroy, a lawyer representing some of the plaintiffs, said that various lawsuits against the Sacklers that were put on hold as a result of the settlement would resume if no new deal is reached.

The Sacklers will be under "a lot of pressure" to reach a quick settlement or face "a massive onslaught to secure assets that may be hidden around the world," she added.

The case drew further attention to the lingering effects of the opioid crisis and the role that Sackler-owned Purdue played in creating it.

As part of the proposed deal, which the Supreme Court put on hold last year when it took up the case, the Sackler family had agreed to pay around $6 billion that could be used to settle opioid-related claims, but only in return for a complete release from any liability in future cases.

The settlement, including assets held by Purdue, would be worth significantly more, with the reorganized company set to dedicate itself to tackling the impact of opioid abuse.

No Sacklers have had any involvement in the company since 2019.

Purdue made billions from OxyContin, a widely available painkiller that fueled the opioid epidemic. The company’s tactics in aggressively marketing the drug came under increasing scrutiny as thousands of people died from opioid overdoses.

As the company’s fortunes nosedived, it sought bankruptcy protection, but the Sackler family members did not. Instead, they negotiated a separate deal with Purdue and plaintiffs in pending lawsuits that would allow the company to reinvent itself to address the opioid crisis.

The New York-based 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals last year approved the plan over the objection of William Harrington, the U.S. government trustee monitoring the bankruptcy. The Justice Department’s trustee program is aimed at ensuring that the bankruptcy system operates as required under law.

Harrington objected to the release of additional claims against the Sacklers, saying it would be unfair to potential future plaintiffs.

Purdue criticized Harrington’s role, saying that groups representing thousands of plaintiffs have signed on to the settlement, which could not have happened without the Sackler family contribution.

At the Supreme Court, various groups representing plaintiffs backed Purdue, including one that includes 1,300 cities, counties and other municipalities and another representing 60,000 people affected by the opioid epidemic.

Canadian municipalities and Indigenous First Nations were among those objecting to the settlement.

Purdue flourished under brothers Mortimer and Raymond Sackler, who died in 2010 and 2017, respectively. The family reaped billions and spent lavishly, including on splashy charitable projects .

The family told the Supreme Court that it continues to back the settlement.

In a brief filed on behalf of the relatives of Mortimer Sackler, most of whom are based overseas, lawyers warned of “significant litigation costs and risks” in seeking to enforce any foreign court judgments against the family if the settlement were thrown out.

Lawrence Hurley covers the Supreme Court for NBC News.

Japanese Emperor and Empress visit their alma mater

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako paid a special visit to the University of Oxford. 

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan visited their alma mater, the University of Oxford, on Friday 28 June.

The imperial couple have a special connection with Oxford having spent years at the collegiate University as students. During the visit, Their Majesties stopped at Balliol College where the Empress studied International Relations, and at Merton College where the Emperor studied for an MLitt in History.

Oxford University Images / John Cairns

Empress Masako was given an honorary degree by the University during a special ceremony at Convocation House.

Emperor Naruhito delivered a speech during a luncheon hosted by the Chancellor. He said: 'First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm words of welcome from Lord Patten, the perfect host on such a wonderful occasion for Masako and myself.

'As I passed the Magdalen Bridge, and as the majestic streets and the iconic "Dreaming Spires" came into view, I was vividly reminded of the days that I spent at Oxford. The complex mix of hope and anxiety for my new life I felt during my matriculation; the challenging yet affectionate tutorial sessions of the late Dr Highfield and Professor Mathias; the flavour of the coffee I had with my friends in Merton's MCR after lunch and dinner: everything to do with Oxford triggers in me fond memories of the two years here that seemed to pass all too quickly.

'We are very grateful that after this luncheon, my wife, Masako, who also had the privilege of studying at Balliol College for two years – five years later than myself – will be honoured with the conferment of an honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law. Masako and I are always reminiscing about the happy and irreplaceable days we experienced in Oxford. The only topic we make a point of avoiding is the question of whether Merton or Balliol is the oldest college in Oxford. We will continue to cherish the unparalleled opportunities and wonderful memories that the University of Oxford has offered us. At the same time, I hope that young people in Japan will also be offered the priceless experience of studying abroad and learning widely from the world, including at universities and institutions like Oxford. Indeed, it is my fervent hope that people-to-people ties which transcend national boundaries such as those constantly unfolding here will become the catalyst for the forging of positive relationships between countries and peoples the world over.

As I passed the Magdalen Bridge, and as the majestic streets and the iconic 'Dreaming Spires' came into view, I was vividly reminded of the days that I spent at Oxford Emperor Naruhito

'I am also delighted to hear that the relationship between Japan and the University of Oxford has seen various developments since the time I left Oxford. For instance, the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies, of which I attended the ground-breaking ceremony for a new building in 1991, is now celebrated as the leading institute in its field in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, I have heard that industry-academia partnerships have been making progress between the University and Japanese companies, including in such areas as research on diabetes and metabolic disorders as well as on financial engineering. The University of Oxford has been one of the world's pre-eminent academic institutions through the way in which it seamlessly merges the weight of tradition passed down over the centuries with innovations driven by intellectual curiosity and outstanding scholarly endeavours. It is my wish that all the Colleges comprising the University of Oxford as well as their students, academics and researchers from the United Kingdom and countries all over the world, including Japan, will continue to inspire and uplift each other, pointing the way towards a brighter future not just for our two countries but for the whole world.'

At Merton, the imperial couple planted a cherry blossom tree, as a significant element of Japanese culture.

The private visit to Oxford took place on the final day of the Emperor and Empress’s visit to the UK, which also included State Visit of His Majesty The King earlier in the week.

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