if a machine or a piece of equipment pays its way, using it saves you more money than it costs to buy or keep.

Our new combine harvester should be paying its way by next year.

• beef up something
• been around
• been around the block
• been had
• been there, done that
• be every inch
• be every inch something
• be fair game
• be falling apart at the seams
• be far and away
• be far and away the best
• be far and away the [best/greatest/worst etc.]
• be far and away the greatest
• be far and away the worst
• be [faster/hotter/thinner etc.] than all get out
• be faster than all get out
• be fed sick to the back teeth
• be fed up to the back teeth
• be few and far between
• be fighting fit
• be fighting for life
• be fighting for your life
• be fighting mad
• be firing on all cylinders
• be first among equals