English Reference
Idiom idiom

feed the meter


To place coins into a parking meter or gas meter.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I need to feed the meter before I go into the store.

CONTEXTUAL

She ran back to her car to feed the meter because she did not want to get a parking ticket.

COMPLEX

After realizing the time had expired, he rushed outside to feed the meter, hoping to avoid the fine that the officer was already writing.


Related idioms6entries
  1. 01

    bite the hand that feeds one

    To cause harm to a benefactor (especially one that one is dependent on, thus with the idea that this behaviour is self-damaging).

  2. 02

    chicken feed

    A very small or insignificant quantity, especially of money.

  3. 03

    feed off

    To get stimulus from (an external object).

  4. 04

    feed the dragon

    To outsource (jobs) to the People's Republic of China.

  5. 05

    feed the fire

    Synonym of add fuel to the fire.

  6. 06

    feed two birds with one scone

    Synonym of kill two birds with one stone.

Last updated August 10, 2026