pay dividends

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pay dividends (third-person singular simple present pays dividends, present participle paying dividends, simple past and past participle paid dividends)

1. (idiomatic) To bring about something good as a result of past effort or actions.
   • 2016 October 22, Rami G Khouri, “Lebanese oligarchy preserves its interests once again”, in Aljazeera‎^[1]:

     Aoun's alliance with Hezbollah appears finally to have paid dividends in moving him into the presidential palace, which the 128-member parliament must formally vote on, probably next week.

   • 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 16:52 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?‎^[2], archived from the original on 3 November 2022:

     Concentrating fire on the heavy cruiser Kumano, Johnston, somehow still alive, is rewarded by seeing explosions and flames amidst the superstructure of the Japanese cruiser. The destroyer's radar and Mark 37 fire-control system are paying dividends early.

   • 2021 March 19, Frida Ghitis, “The GOP’s xenophobia is fueling toxic culture of hate”, in CNN‎^[3]:

     The United States is not the only country where xenophobia pays dividends for politicians.

   • 2021 October 6, Greg Morse, “A need for speed and the drive for 125”, in RAIL, number 941, page 51:

     The trains were soon paying dividends - by December, BR was reporting a 15% rise in passenger receipts.

• “pay dividends”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.