Pay The Freight Meaning

Example : To pay for the cost of transport.1990, J. A. Jance, Minor in Possession, page 168  I don't want to pay the freight on the kind of conspicuous consumption that thrives on Mercedes or Jaguars.1997, J. A. Jance Name Withheld, page 58  Stores that were large enough to pay the freight hired their own in-house detectives and security, but lots of companies were far too small to handle that kind of expense on a full-time basis.2000, G. M. Ford, Last Ditch, page 62  McColl was the lawyer of choice for those who could pay the freight.