pay to play

To give money so that you can play a game, sport, or instrument.

• You must pay to play golf here.
• We paid to play tennis for an hour.
• Do children have to pay to play this game?

Common phrases: pay to play tennis, pay to play golf

To pay money to take part in an activity or gain an opportunity, sometimes unfairly.

• Small companies must pay to play in this market.
• Artists paid to play at the industry event.
• Do new suppliers have to pay to play here?

Common phrases: pay to play here, pay to play again

To give politicians money to gain business or other opportunities they control.

• Contractors had to pay to play.
• The investigation showed that developers paid to play through campaign donations.
• Companies that refused to pay to play received no city contracts.

Similar words: buy influence

Common phrases: pay to play politically, pay to play here

A system or fee that requires people to pay before they can take part in an activity.

• Pay to play excludes some families.
• The club introduced pay to play to cover its costs.
• Parents objected to pay to play in school sports.

Similar words: participation fee

Common phrases: pay to play costs, pay to play fees

A system where people must give politicians money to receive contracts, jobs, or other advantages.

• The investigation exposed pay to play.
• Several public contracts were linked to pay to play.
• The mayor denied allowing pay to play in city government.

Similar words: political corruption

Common phrases: pay to play schemes, pay to play politics