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Region: General | Usage example: Her background fit the bill for the remote marketing role.

Fit the bill

Meaning

Meet the requirements of a particular situation.

Usage

Used when evaluating candidates or solutions.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

A bill can refer to a bird's beak or a plan; matching the bill meant matching what was needed.

Found in 19th-century print when people described tools shaped for a task.

Related Idioms

Bill and hold

An arrangement where goods are billed but retained by the seller.

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Fish out of water

Feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation.

More Idioms

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.

Barking up the wrong tree

Accusing or pursuing the wrong person/idea; making a false assumption.