掏腰包 tāoyāobāo to dip into one's pocket
to dip into one's pocket; to pay out of pocket; to foot the bill
How to remember 掏腰包: 掏 to take out + 腰 waist + 包 parcel = to dip into one's pocket.
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How it is used
- To pay out of one's own pocket, foot the bill - 这顿饭我自己掏腰包 (zhè dùn fàn wǒ zìjǐ tāoyāobāo) I'll pay for this meal myself.
- Colloquial, three-character verb-object phrase. Stresses spending your own money rather than someone else's.