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

[CurlewKate]

..would your friendship circle knew what you meant?

Never heard of it and I'd think anyone saying was a bit of a wally.

I’m 36, Scottish (west of Scotland near Glasgow) and hear this phrase all the time. It’s definitely a common phrase where I am. Even a school mum will say, “Got time after the school run? I’ll spring for coffees and cake!” Also my parents said it and parents of my friends when I was a kid

It’s totally normal. I’ve definitely heard it in shows like Midsommer Murders etc too.

Why would you think someone using a phrase that you'd never heard of before was a bit of a wally?

It kind of sounds like going to collect a takeaway in a very enthusiastic and energetic manner. Which would be great because I'm quite lazy.

never heard it and would need to ask what it meant. I would assume it meant physically going to get the takeaway not pay for it necessarily

I know what this means, I can hear my Dad saying it.

Because it sounds like one of those silly phrases like 'rocking up' instead of arriving. I don't know if that's correct but I'm quick to jump to the conclusion that someone is a bit of a wally so that's what I'd immediately think. I'm half joking.

Sorry, but what?

Because you’ve never heard of a saying before, you’d think anyone using it is a bit of a wally. Why, exactly? There will be many many phrases you’ve never heard before, why does someone else knowing something you don’t know, make them some kind of idiot?

I think that’s an insight into how insecure you are. Hearing something you don’t know and your reaction is to attack the person using it with name calling, to deflect from the fact that they know something you don’t. That is a very very odd reaction.

It’s a phrase that’s been around for over 100 years. And is very very common in a lot of areas. Everyone where I am would understand it, because it gets said a lot when someone is treating.

But you don’t know something, so anyone who does is a “wally.”

Such a strange outlook on life. Definitely insecure.

Also never heard of it, a common phrase would mean pretty much everyone would have heard the phrase before.

What an odd thought process, even if you're half joking. It's a perfectly normal turn of phrase.

Go google it. You’ll see it actually is a common phrase. Just because it’s passed by some people doesn’t change that.

I know 'snags', 'this arvo' and 'the Salvos', courtesy of Neighbours.

Never heard of the 'spring' thing, but I'd guess it correctly.

I've heard the expression before and would interpret it as meaning the speaker is offering to pay for everyone.

I'd know. I do associate it with generations older than myself (I'm a Xennial), so maybe younger people would be less likely to have heard it. (And after this thread, I suppose it's less common in some regions, as well.)

I don’t think it necessarily means you’ll pay for everyone. If friends and I are planning a night out I might say, ‘Normally I’d need to leave early to get the last train, but I don’t mind springing for a hotel if it means we can all stay for a drink after the theatre’. It implies a financial stretch you wouldn’t normally make. The ‘spring’ bit is like a jump or leap, linguistically.

Common phrase. You're buying us a takeaway. Definitely used by my parents generation (late 60s) as well as mine.

It’s means I’m buying.

Pedantic and unnecessary

Never heard that phrase anywhere I’ve lived in the U.K. When I first read it, I assumed it meant ‘go out now’ - ie the person was saying they’d be happy to go and collect a takeaway for everyone. My second guess was ‘pay for’, but that was just a guess from the possibilities not because I’ve ever heard ‘spring’ used in that way at all.

Yep, I know what it means and use it. Female, later 50s, south-west UK.

Whereas your input was absolutely vital…

yup very common phrase to mean you will pay for something. I'm not aware of ever having not known what it means iykwim so I guess it's been in use for a long time (London 50yo).

I'd know what it meant, I think I've read it in books, but I've never heard anyone actually say it.

Yes, that is what it means, your 'shout'.