Make a killing

[romelpanzer]

The phrase "to make a killing", according to dictionary definition, means to be successful especially in making money. Can it be used for other achievements which do not involve money? For example, if I tell this to my friend to laud his achievement for marrying a beautiful girl? Will it be correct?

[emsr2d2]

The phrase "to make a killing", according to dictionary definition, means to be successful especially in making money. Can it be used for other achievements which do not involve money? For example, if I tell this to my friend to laud his achievement for marrying a beautiful girl? Will it be correct?

I would say no. The accepted definition is financial. If you told me that one of your friends had made a killing, I would assume you meant on the stock market or in some other monetary way. I would be very surprised if you then went on to tell me that you meant in your opinion he had been lucky with his choice of wife.