When “fit” doesn’t fit

January 10th, 2009 at 07:00am Barry Wood

The correct informal phrase for “to meet the requirements” is “fill the bill,” NOT “fit the bill.”

The latter may seem the logical choice, because we’re talking about something that’s a good fit. But the correct verb is “fill.”

Other idiomatic uses of “fill” include “fill up”; the informal “fill someone in on”; and “fill out,” which can apply to making something larger, rounder and so forth or to filling in the blanks on a form.

But that doesn’t mean “fit” is left out. Included in its resume are “by fits and starts” (”in an irregular way”) and the informal trio “fit to be tied” (”frustrated and angry”), “fit to kill” (”excessively, immoderately, strikingly or showily”) and “have (or throw) a fit” (”to become very angry or upset”).

In each of those cases, “fit” fills the bill.

Entry Filed under: word choices, idiom