From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpick up the tabpick up the tabPAY FORto pay for something, especially when it is not your responsibility to pay Taxpayers will pick up the tab for the stadium. → tab
Examples from the Corpus
pick up the tab• We all went out to dinner, and Adam picked up the tab.• When the check comes, the lobbyists almost always pick up the tab.• Often, the book publisher, not the author, picks up the tab.• Usually the book publisher, not the author, picks up the tab for a publicity tour.• Thus, port officials argue, the city should have picked up the tab for fixing the recently revealed environmental problems.• I wonder to myself as I pick up the tab for breakfast.• Normally, developers paying a barrister to represent them at an inquiry must pick up the tab.• He wouldn't pick up the tab for anyone else.• Airlines will have to pick up the tab for new safety regulations.• In addition, my company will pick up the tab for all legal and moving expenses. 