Idiom Category: Money, Page 2

Money burns a hole in your pocket

If someone has money burning a hole in their pocket, they are eager to spend it, normally in a wasteful manner.

Money doesn`t grow on trees

This means that you have to work to earn money; it doesn't come easily or without effort.

Money for jam

If something's money for jam, it's a very easy way of making money.

Money for old rope

(UK) If something's money for old rope, it's a very easy way of making money.

Money laundering

If people launder money, they get money made illegally into the mainstream so that it is believed to be legitimate and clean.

Money makes many things

This means that money is important.

Money pit

A business or venture that costs a lot of money, especially when it costs more than expected, is a money pit.

Money talks

This means that people can convey many messages with money, and many things can be discovered about people by observing the way they use their money.

Money to burn

If someone is very rich, they have money to burn.

More bang for your buck

(USA) Something that will give you more bang for your buck will deliver more value than any other option.

Nickel tour

(USA) If someone gives you a nickel tour, they show you around a place. ('Fifty-cent tour' is also used.)

Not have two nickels to rub together

(USA) If a person doesn't have two nickels to rub together, they are very poor.

Not have two pennies to rub together

If someone hasn't got two pennies to rub together, they are very poor indeed.

Not worth a red cent

(USA) If something is not worth a red cent, it has no value.

On the knock

(UK) If you buy something on the knock, you pay for it in instalments.

On the money

If you are on the money, you are right about something.

On the never-never

(UK) If you buy something on the never-never, you buy it on long-term credit.

One man's trash is another man's treasure

What is useless to one person might be valuable to another.

Other side of the coin

The other side of the coin is a different, usually opposing, view of a situation. ('Flip side of the coin' is an alternative.)

Out of your own pocket

If someone does something out of their own pocket, they pay all the expenses involved.

Pay on the nail

If you pay on the nail, you pay promptly in cash.

Pay the piper

When you pay the piper, you have to accept the consequences of something that you have done wrong or badly.

Pay your dues

If you have paid your dues, you have had your own struggles and earned your place or position.

Pennies on the dollar

(USA) If something is pennies on the dollar, it's much cheaper than it  cost originally.

Penny ante

(USA) Something that is very unimportant is penny ante.

Penny pincher

A penny pincher is a mean person or who is very frugal.

Penny wise, pound foolish

Someone who is penny wise, pound foolish can be very careful or mean with small amounts of money, yet wasteful and extravagant with large sums.

Pick up the tab

A person who pays for everyone picks up the tab.

Pin money

(UK) If you work for pin money, you work not because you need to but because it gives you money for extra little luxuries and treats.

Pink pound

(UK) In the UK, the pink pound is an idiom for the economic power of gay people.

Quick buck

If you make some money easily, you make a quick buck.

Quids in

(UK) If somebody is quids in, they stand to make a lot of money from something.

Rags to riches

Someone who starts life very poor and becomes rich goes from rags to riches.

Rich man's family

A rich man's family consists of one son and one daughter.

Rolling in money

If someone has a lot of money, more than they could possibly need, they are rolling in money.

Rough diamond

A rough diamond is a person who might be a bit rude but who is good underneath it all.

Scot free

If someone escapes scot free, they avoid payment or punishment. 'Scot' is an old word for a tax, so it originally referred to avoiding taxes, though now has a wider sense of not being punished for someone that you have done.

Short-change

If you are short-changed, someone cheats you of money or doesn't give you full value for something.

Show me the money

When people say this, they either want to know how much they will be paid for something or want to see evidence that something is valuable or worth paying for.

Sixty-four-thousand-dollar-question

The sixty-four-thousand-dollar-question is the most important question that can be asked about something.

Sound as a pound

(UK) if something is as sound as a pound, it is very good or reliable.

Spend a penny

(UK) This is a euphemistic idiom meaning to go to the toilet.

Spend like a sailor

Someone who spends their money wildly spends like a sailor.

Spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tar

(UK) If someone spoils the ship for a ha'pworth (halfpenny's worth) of tar, they spoil something completely by trying to make a small economy.

Square Mile

(UK) The Square Mile is the City, the financial area of London.

Stop on a dime

(USA) If something like a vehicle stops on a dime, it stops very quickly and accurately.

Strapped for cash

If you're strapped for cash, you are short of money.

Take someone to the cleaners

If someone is taken to the cleaners, they are cheated, defrauded or lose a lot of money.

Ten a penny

(UK) If something is ten a penny, it is very common. ("Two a penny" is also used.)

That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee

(USA) This is used to describe something that is deemed worthless. "He's got a Ph.D. in Philosophy." "So? That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee."

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