run up a bill

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

CPC was selling petroleum products at a huge discount to consumers, and had run up a bill of some $4 billion with suppliers, despite not having adequate income to repay them.

From Reuters • Jun. 8, 2022

Those trips have run up a bill of “at least” $2,252,600.50 from April 29 to Aug. 8, according to Tom Fitton, president of the watchdog organization.

From Washington Times • Nov. 18, 2021

A cat involved in a road traffic accident might run up a bill of £875 and a torn knee ligament in a dog could cost around £1,200 to fix.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2016

This is why whittling down thousands of candidate substances to bring a new drug to market can run up a bill of over $1 billion.

From Economist • Jun. 11, 2015

Besides, I've got some customers what owe me—one man run up a bill of a quarter jest 'fore I went on dat fresh-air racket, an' I want to collect it.

From Dick Hamilton's Fortune The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son by Garis, Howard R.