to-pay-dividends
/tuː peɪ ˈdɪv.ɪ.dɛndz/ IELTSAcademic
phrase
If an action or decision pays dividends, it gives good results later. It is often used for work, study, planning, or effort.
- Regular revision will pay dividends in exams.
- Saving early pays dividends later.
- Clear communication can pay dividends at work.
Adinary Nuance
Pay dividends is close to pay off, but it sounds a little more formal and is often used for long-term effort. It also suggests steady reward, not just one big success. Writers choose it for business, study, or planning contexts. It is less casual than pay off.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mang lại kết quả
- Spanish
- dar frutos
- Chinese
- 带来回报
- Japanese
- 実を結ぶ
- Korean
- 결실을 맺다
Etymology
This phrase comes from finance, where dividends are money paid to shareholders. In English, it began to be used more widely in the 1900s for any useful long-term result.
Common phrases
pay dividends in the long runtime will pay dividendseffort that pays dividends
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is pay dividends formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and common in writing, business, and academic English.
- What is the difference between pay dividends and pay off?
- Pay off is more general and often more casual. Pay dividends often suggests long-term or steady benefits.
- Can I use pay dividends for study and work?
- Yes. It works well for both, especially when effort gives later benefits.