Split the bill synonyms, and which ones mean equal shares
Quick answer
Other ways to say split the bill are split the check, split the cost, share the cost, go halves, go fifty-fifty, go Dutch and chip in. Only go halves and go fifty-fifty are defined as equal shares. The others leave the amounts open, so add 'equally' or 'by what we ordered' when it matters.
Key points
- Split the check, split the cost and share the cost all mean split the bill. Cambridge gives bill as the UK word and check as the US word.
- Only go halves and go fifty-fifty are defined as equal shares. Split, share the cost, go Dutch and chip in leave the amounts open.
- On an $84 cost, going halves is $42.00 each and splitting three ways is $28.00 each. Chipping in can be any mix that adds up to $84.
- When the amounts matter, add a word for them: 'equally', 'by what we ordered' or a ratio such as 60/40.
On this page
What are other ways to say split the bill?
The common ones are split the check, split the cost, share the cost, go halves, go fifty-fifty, go Dutch and chip in. They are not interchangeable, because they say different things about the amounts. The plain meaning of the base phrase is on its own page, what it means to split the bill.
“Split check” can also mean separate checks from the restaurant. That is a different request, covered in what split check means.
Which of them say the shares are equal?
As of October 2026, only go halves and go fifty-fifty are defined as equal shares. The others leave the amounts open.
| Phrase | Says the shares are equal? | What the dictionary gives |
|---|---|---|
| Split the bill, split the check | Not stated | Cambridge: bill is the UK word, check the US word |
| Split the cost, share the cost | Not stated | Cambridge lists splits of 50/50, 60/40 and 70/30 |
| Go halves, go fifty-fifty | Yes | Dictionary.com: “Share equally.” Cambridge marks go halves informal |
| Go Dutch | Not stated | Cambridge: “share the cost”. Dictionary.com: each person pays their own expenses |
| Chip in | Not stated | Cambridge: informal, to give money when several people pay for something together |
Cambridge’s go halves entry reads “to divide the cost of something with someone”, and every example in it has two people.
What do they look like on an $84 cost?
Each phrase gives a different picture of the same $84.00.
- Go halves. Two people owe $42.00 each.
- Split it three ways. Cambridge’s business entry gives “We will split the profits three ways” for this pattern. For $84.00 that is $28.00 each.
- Chip in. Five people give $30, $20, $14, $10 and $10 toward an $84 gift. Nobody was asked for an equal amount, and the phrase does not require one.
Which phrase should you use?
Use whichever sounds natural, and add a word for the amounts. “Split the check equally” and “split it by what we ordered” each say what the table is agreeing to, which the bare phrases do not. A ratio works too: “split it 60/40” tells two people exactly what to pay.
In EvenOut, the amounts are the split picker: “Equally”, “Exact amounts”, “Percent”, “Shares” or “By item”, chosen for each expense. The words people use at the table then match what the app records. For the general method, see how to split expenses and how to split a bill unevenly.
Frequently asked questions
What do 60/40 and 70/30 splits look like in dollars?
On an $84.00 cost, 60/40 is $50.40 and $33.60. A 70/30 split is $58.80 and $25.20. In EvenOut, choose 'Percent' and type the percentages. Each person's dollar share shows under their name, and the pill reads 'Adds up to 100%'.
What is the phrase for one person paying the whole bill?
One phrase is 'foot the bill'. Cambridge defines it as 'to pay for something', with the example 'Her mother agreed to foot the bill.' The phrase does not say whether anyone repays. If you expect to be repaid, say so, or record the expense in EvenOut as paid by you and split.
Do these phrases work for utilities as well as dinner?
Yes. Cambridge defines bill as 'a request for payment of money owed' and lists an electricity, gas or phone bill as examples, so split the bill fits utilities. Split the cost and share the cost fit anything shared, such as a trip.
Sources
Checked October 6, 2026.
Keep reading
- Glossary Split the bill: meaning and other ways to say it To split the bill is to divide what a group owes. A $60 bill for 3 is $20 each, or $28, $17 and $15 if you split by what each person ate.
- Glossary Split check: what it means in a restaurant A split check can mean separate checks, one check on two cards, or one check divided equally. See each on a $187.00 bill, and what 'no split checks' means.
- Glossary Go Dutch: meaning and origin To go Dutch is to pay your own share of a meal or outing. On a $90 check it can differ from an equal split. Dictionary origin and wording included.
- Guide How to split expenses: five methods, one worked example One $480 cabin bill for four people, split five ways: equally, by percent, by shares, by exact amounts and by item. See the sums and pick the method.
- Guide How to split a bill unevenly when orders differ Split a $186 dinner when one person's cocktails cost $24: carve out her drinks, split the rest four ways. Plus the right method for four uneven situations.