English

Proverb

you pays your money and you takes your choice

1. Each person should make his or her own decisions.

   You can get there by bus, or train, or taxi. Whatever. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

   • 1846, “THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.[cartoon]”, in Punch, page 17:

     Showman. On your right you will perceive a Prime Minister a Bolishing of hisself. And over your left is another Prime Minister a Bolishing of the Corn-Laws. / Master John Bull. But which is the Prime Minister? / Showman. Which ever you please, my little dear. You pays your money, and you takes your choice.

Usage notes

• This phrase is almost always expressed in the ungrammatical form: you pays and you takes.

See also

• to each his own
• you get what you pay for