A question of March 20, 1999 from a Time lesson student:

Do you often use the word "spring" in this meaning (to pay for someone) on an everyday basis? I've never heard that word that way.

Yes. Not every day (in my case!), but I used it from time to time when I lived in America. Here's an example of how it is commonly used:

It was payday, so I sprang for dinner last night.