Many English idioms concern money in some way. The idiom may be related to paying for things, the cost of goods, or whether an individual is wealthy or poor. Sometimes, money idioms simply mention money. The following video explains the meaning of ten money idioms in English, providing examples of use in sentences.
Video Presentation: Money Idioms In English
Idioms About Money with Meaning and Examples
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
When something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too late and too little; delayed too long and ineffective; waiting too long to do something and being unprepared to do it effectively.
Examples:
“Mike’s apology was a day late and a dollar short. There is just too much water under the bridge for me to ever forgive him.”
“The company’s effort to pay it’s employers fair wages was a day late and a dollar short.”
A Dime a Dozen
Something that is a dime a dozen is very common and easily found; plentiful and of little to no value; common and therefore cheap. A dime a dozen can refer to a person or thing but most often refers to a thing.
Examples:
“Those toy prizes at carnivals are a dime a dozen.”
“Romantic comedies are a dime a dozen and they’re all the same!”
An Arm and a Leg
An arm and a leg is a very large amount of money; a very high price. Something can cost an arm and a leg or a person can charge an arm and a leg for something.
We might pay, or refuse to pay, an arm and a leg or one might give an arm and a leg. When we say something “costs an arm and a leg” we mean that it is much too expensive and overpriced.
Examples:
“Hotel rooms around here cost an arm and a leg.”
“I had a flat tire on the way to work and the guy at the gas station charged me an arm and a leg to fix it.”
Cash Cow
A cash cow is something, such as a product or business, that is a reliable source of profit; a dependable money-maker that contributes the most overall profits to a business.
Examples:
“I was hesitant to invest in my brother-in-law’s business venture but it turned out to be a cash cow.”
“Not every invention, no matter how good, can be a cash cow.”
Cash on the Barrelhead
Cash on the barrelhead is an American idiom with the same meaning as the British expression cash on the nail (or nail head). It means immediate payment up front before any goods or services are received.
When you are expected to put cash on the barrelhead you are expected to pay without delay, with no credit allowed.
Examples:
“How much to repair the sink,” asked Beverly. “Two-hundred bucks, cash on the barrelhead,” said the handyman.
“Maria was amazed when the man said he would buy the house for $300,000, cash on the barrelhead.
Chip In
To chip in means to contribute some money to a cause, a business, or any other effort requiring money. It can also mean to contribute to an effort in any way, such as with physical help. This usually has the connotation of being a small amount of help or money, where each of a group of people is contributing something.
Occasionally, the expression is used to mean the same as chime in such as with a remark during a discussion.
Examples:
From Mark Twain’s Innocents at Home, 1869: “Pard, he was a great loss to this town. It would please the boys if you could chip in something like that, and do him justice.”
“I know it’s late, but if we all chip in we can get this place cleaned up in no time.”
Cold, Hard Cash
Cold, hard cash means actual money in the form of bills and coins as opposed to checks, credit, or any other form of payment; money that is readily available for payment. This idiom is most often shortened to just cold cash or hard cash, with the latter being more common.
Examples:
“I deal only in cold, hard cash. You want to do business with me, don’t bring a checkbook!”
“I don’t have any hard cash on me. Do you take credit cards?”
Dirt Cheap
When something is dirt cheap it is very inexpensive.
Examples:
“You won’t believe what I found at a garage sale. An autographed Stephen King novel. It was dirt cheap, too!”
“Fifteen dollars a month for such a great service is dirt cheap.”
Drop a Dime (on someone)
To drop a dime (on someone) means to inform on them or betray them, usually to the police.
Examples:
“Mary is such a teacher’s pet. She dropped a dime on me for sneaking out while the teacher was away.”
“The only way he can avoid a prison sentence is to drop the dime on his former employer.”
For My Money
For my money means in my opinion; my preference; or my choice. This idiom alludes to how you would spend your money if given the chance.
Examples:
“For my money, a sports car is not a very good choice.”
“For my money, decorating the house is not a priority when the roof needs to be replaced.”
From Rags to Riches
Rags to riches is a way of describing a person who starts out in extreme poverty then becomes very wealthy.
Examples:
“Alex went from rags to riches, selling, of all things, rags.”
“Not many people believe in the Horatio Alger myth of rags to riches anymore.”
To Not Have Two Pennies to Rub Together
To not have two pennies to rub together means to be broke; very poor; impoverished. The expression can be used to indicate a temporary lack of funds or ongoing poverty.
Examples:
“I’d like to get a new apartment but I barely have two pennies to rub together.”
“Tom grew up very poor. His family never had two pennies to rub together.”
Get By, to
To get by means to move past someone or something; to manage to survive with very little money or without everything needed to survive; to barely manage something; to barely succeed.
Examples:
“I managed to get by without a regular paycheck but sometimes I had to beg for food.”
“Listen, I can’t get by on what you’re offering me, you’re going to have to pay more.”
Gravy Train
The gravy train refers to a source of easy financial profit, or a position in which you have a very good chance of obtaining advantages.
To ride the gravy train means to have excessive wealth, comfort, luxury, or success, especially when this is not necessarily deserved.
Examples:
“He’s been on the gravy train so long he doesn’t remember what it’s like to struggle.”
“You really should get in on this deal,” said Peterson. “Come on and ride the gravy train with the rest of us.”
Hand to Mouth, living from
To live from hand to mouth means to only have enough money to buy the utmost essentials that one presently needs; to have barely enough money to survive and no ability to save so that one is always on the verge of not having food, shelter, etc.
Examples:
“The Beverly Hillbillies is a television comedy about a poor mountain family that lived hand to mouth before finding oil on their land and moving to Beverly Hills.”
“I was living a hand to mouth existence after I lost my job but after a few years I got back on my feet.”
Have Money to Burn
To have money to burn means to have so much money you can spend it on whatever you want, even on unnecessary luxuries or foolish things; to have more money than you need to survive.
Examples:
“Did you see Robinson’s house? There’s gold everywhere. He obviously has money to burn.”
“Our house sold for much more than we thought it would. Since we are downsizing, we will still have money to burn.”
Ill-Gotten Gains
Money or any acquisitions obtained by dishonest, illegal, or evil means.
Examples:
“He seemed a typical rich businessman, but all his wealth was ill-gotten gains.”
“After stealing the jewelry, he needed a place to hide his ill-gotten gains until things cooled down.”
Made of Money
To be made of money means to be very rich (wealth).
Examples:
“Armisten is made of money. He could buy this election and brags about it. And yet he took in more donations than any other candidate.”
“No, we can’t buy you your own car. Do you think we’re made of money?”
Money Burns a Hole in Your (or one’s) Pocket
This idiom is used to refer to someone who can’t resist the urge to spend money as soon as they earn it and/or who spends it extravagantly.
Examples:
“You said you wanted to save up for your first car, but as soon as you get paid, the money burns a hole in your pocket.”
“I just won five-hundred bucks off a scratch-off card! I know I should put the money in the bank but its burning a hole in my pocket.”
Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees
Money doesn’t grow on trees is a set phrase used to remind someone, especially a young person, not to waste money. It means that money is a finite resource that is difficult to acquire and we should understand its value, as it cannot be picked from a tree like fruit.
Examples:
“Can I have twenty dollars so I can buy a video game?” asked Holden. “You already have dozens of video games and money doesn’t grow on trees,” replied Dad.
“Turn the lights off when you leave a room,” said mom. “Our utility bill is sky-high. Money doesn’t grow on trees!”
Money Laundering
Money laundering is the criminal act of trying to make illegally obtained money seem legal by moving it through banks or other businesses, usually in small increments compared to the principal amount, thus transforming them into legitimate seeming assets.
Examples:
“It was recently revealed that this year’s Oscar-winning movie was financed with illegal money and used as a money-laundering scheme.”
“He paid for his two mansions with laundered money.”
On a Shoestring
With a very small amount of money or resources; a very small budget.
Examples:
“We opened our business on a shoestring.”
“After the factory closed down, he was forced to take a minimum-wage job and get by on a shoestring.”
Pass the Hat Around
To pass the hat around means to collect money by asking for donations from friends, coworkers, or colleagues.
Examples:
Ann has worked here so long and I want her to feel appreciated. Maybe we could buy her a nice gift or even a cruise or something,” said Fran. “I love the cruise idea,” said Vic, “but we may need to pass the hat so we can really afford a good one.”
“We passed the hat around to help pay for Richard’s surgery. We wouldn’t have needed to if the boss gave us health insurance.”
Pay Through the Nose
To pay through the nose means to pay an excessive amount of money for something; to pay much too high a price.
Examples:
“People in rural areas have to pay through the nose for slow internet access.”
“Be careful before you pay through the nose for a vacation tour package. Some of them are scams.”
A Penny for Your Thoughts
We use the expression a penny for your thoughts when we wish to know what is on another person’s mind. It tends to be used when another person we are with is unusually quiet and withdrawn, perhaps seeming introspective or distracted. It means simply “what are you thinking?”
Examples:
“You seem quiet today,” said Francis. “A penny for your thoughts?”
“You’ve said barely a word all evening. A penny for your thoughts?”
A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
A penny saved is a penny earned is a way of saying that one should not waste money but should save it, even if little by little. This idiom, which is more of a maxim, is so common it’s often shortened to ‘a penny saved.’
Examples:
“I’m not going to buy a new car just because mine is a little beat up. A penny saved is a penny earned.”
“I’ve tried to get my wife to stop shopping all the time. You know, a penny saved and all that. But, she doesn’t listen!”
Pony Up
To pony up means to pay what is owed or due; to settle one’s debt.
Examples:
“You owe me fifty bucks and I need the cash. Pony up,” said Mick.
“If I don’t pony up this month’s rent soon I’m going to be evicted.”
Put in One’s Two Cents Worth
To put in one’s two cents (worth) means to give one’s opinion even when it is not asked for. Two cents, when used alone, means simply an opinion, especially an unwanted one.
Examples:
“If I could put in my two cents worth, I think we should stop offering free hummus with every meal. People are filling up on it and not ordering much food!”
“Nobody asked for your two cents!”
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
To put your money where your mouth is means to do something rather than just talk about it; to take actions that support your opinion, statements or position; to use your own money in support of something you say your support.
Examples:
“You say your support the bill. Put your money where your mouth is,” said the senator.
“We’ve complained about low wages for years and nothing has improved. It’s time to put our money where our mouth is and call a strike.”
Strapped For Cash
To be strapped for cash means to not have any money available. This idiom has a similar meaning to broke, hard up, short on money, and down to one’s last cent.
Examples:
“Sorry, I can’t go out tonight. I’m strapped for cash.”
“Strapped for cash college students often subsist on Ramen noodles and microwave burritos.”
Take Someone to the Cleaners
To take someone to the cleaners is to take most or all their money or cause them to lose their money through cheating them or some other nefarious means; to “clean someone out” financially either by dishonest means or in a court battle.
Examples:
“Robert was a con-artist who took several senior citizens to the cleaners.”
“After Joe’s wife found out he was cheating on her, she took him to the cleaners.”
Tight-Fisted
To be tight-fisted means to be unwilling to spend money; stingy and miserly.
Examples:
“I would ask my father for a loan but he’s so tight-fisted I know he would never help.”
“Everyone was surprised when Uncle Paul, the most tight-fisted person in the family, paid for everyone’s dinner at the restaurant.”
Time Is Money
Time is money means time is a valuable resource or commodity, so you should do things quickly in order not to squander or waste time. In other words, any time that you waste you could be using to earn money, and the quicker you work the more money you can earn.
Examples:
Time is money, people. Let’s get this meeting started.”
“I’ve been waiting for this plumber all day but I can’t sit around any longer. Time is money.”
Under the Table
The idiom under the table means in secret and often illegally. This idiom is usually used in regards to the exchange of money as in “being paid under the table.”
Examples:
“He was in the country illegally so he was being paid under the table by the painting company.”
“All the kitchen workers were paid under the table to avoid taxes.”
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