If you said that you were “happy to spring for a takeaway”..

[CurlewKate]

..would your friendship circle knew what you meant?

I'm 55, Scottish and it's a very common phrase up here. It's means you are paying for it all.

I’ve never heard the expression “spring for” before but would assume it meant you were wanting to buy a takeaway for everyone in the group? We would say “we’ll get this” or to the children we might say “I’ll shout you this one” about (for example) a pack of Pokemon cards.

Definitely a known phrase in the north west of England.

Is it? Whereabouts?

I thought it was a common phrase meaning you will pay. I am from Essex.

I’m in my 50s and I’ve never encountered it (Northwest England). I wouldn’t have a clue, but I’d have wrongly assumed it meant the person would get up and go and get a takeaway for everyone, like “spring into action”.

Notice that those descriptions don't say everyone knows what it means. Sometimes just because you personally don't know something doesn't mean it's not common knowledge (and things like locale, age etc can also affect that).
OP I've heard the phrase and understand it means that the person will pay or treat everyone but it's not a phrase I or the people I know would use. I think it's more a US thing?

I’ve heard of it and would know what it meant but I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone say it in real life. It’s certainly not something I’ve heard anyone I currently know say, and I’m fairly sure I’ve never used the phrase myself.

Blackpool

Nah

Never heard of it. Am actually sitting with someone who lives in Blackpool and just asked her. Shes never heard of it, said it sounds Australian 🤣

Never heard of it

Nope

Aah I'm Liverpool and never heard of it before.

Several of us Scottish posters have said we don't know the expression so it's not well known everywhere in Scotland.

It’s amazing how wound up folk can get over things 🤣

Where's "up here"? I'm 66 and lived in various parts of Scotland all my life. I've never heard it.

It means I'm offering to pay for everyone's meal. My friends and family would all understand me.

It's a phase of American origin that has been in use since around 1900, and possibly had its roots in a language other than English.

It's a little archaic in American English.

If British people use it, they probably heard it from someone else who heard it in movies or gleaned it from 20th century American literature.

I’m pretty sure it’s not regional but hey! And I do find the “I have no idea what it means” gang a bit puzzling. Really? You couldn’t make an educated guess? No idea at all? Do you think it might be some sort of athletics event? 😂

Yes to this.

The only athletic part about a takeaway should be how quickly you can get it from the front door to the table. You might have to spring across the room while avoiding grabbing hands, or perhaps that's just my experience. 😂

If someone said it to me, obviously without reading this thread, I wouldn't guess what they meant. I'd ask them

Can't say I use it but this is a very common and well-known phrase so I'm amazed so many people say they've never heard it.

Also Scottish here, and yes I know it, have heard it used more than once, and have occasionally said it myself. Everyone has understood (me paying for it).