The Village Idiom

fill the bill

The idiom "fill the bill" means to meet someone's requirements or needs, especially when referring to a specific task or role.

Filed under F

In a sentence

  • The new employee has excellent qualifications and experience, so she really fills the bill for the position.
  • We need a big table for our dinner party, and this one should fill the bill.
  • I was looking for a funny movie to watch, and this comedy really filled the bill.

Where it comes from and how it is used

The idiom "fit the bill" is closely related to "fill the bill". Both phrases share the same meaning and can be used interchangeably to express the idea of someone or something meeting the requirements or expectations for a particular situation or purpose.

"Fill in" is another idiom that is related to "fill the bill". While "fill the bill" refers to someone or something fitting the requirements or expectations, "fill in" is used to describe the act of temporarily taking someone's place or performing their duties while they are absent or unable to do so. For example, if a teacher is sick and unable to come to school, a substitute teacher could "fill in" for them.

"Fill in the blank" is a phrase used in education and testing to refer to the act of completing a sentence or statement by adding missing information. This idiom is not directly related to "fill the bill", but it shares a similar concept of filling or completing something.

"Pay the bills" is another idiom that is not directly related to "fill the bill", but it is worth mentioning as it includes the word "bill". This phrase is used to refer to the act of earning money to cover the expenses or obligations of daily life, such as paying for utilities, rent, or other bills.

"Fill someone's shoes" is a phrase that is related to the concept of someone taking over or replacing another person in a role or position. It is commonly used to describe the act of stepping into someone's role or responsibilities when they are no longer able to fulfill them. For example, when a manager retires, a new employee may be hired to "fill their shoes" and take on their duties.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.