Spend For?

Question

I was wondering if this is a contextual usage or perhaps something I have missed back in school!
As far as I'm concerned, the usual proposition (or perhaps the only one I'm aware of) that follows spend is on: SPEND it ON a or b or c. Now, my current wandering in formal (read congress papers) showed me another one: for, as in: Money SPEND FOR buying a or b or c.
Would someone please help me with this? Thanks a lot.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousMoney SPEND FOR buying

Money spent for --- seems all right to my ear.

Also money spent to ---.

(American English.)

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, CJ. Now, may I ask if the meaning is pretty much the same.
I mean as in: How much would you spend on buying...? Vs How much would you spend for buying...?
Appreciate it.

CalifJim · Answer

Well, strange to say, the version with for doesn't sound good to me in that configuration - though on doesn't sound great either. I'd say that these have the same meaning, though:

How much would you spend for that book?
How much would you spend (in order) to have that book?

Spending and buying are too closely related to make a good combination. The following is a bit strange.

How much would you spend to buy that book?

And this one is worse

How much would you spend on buying that book?

And this one even worse

How much would you spend for buying that book?

I can accept spend for in a few cases, though spend on seems better:

We spend a lot [on / for] the upkeep of the property.
All of that money was spent [on / for] the entertainment of our business associates.

In summary, on probably works all the time, while for only works in a small number of cases.

CJ

Spend For?

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