Money
above par
- more than average, above normal, more than the face value of a bond/stock/currency
The currency was selling above par at the small exchange shop.
almighty dollar
- money when it is viewed as more important than anything else
The man spent most of his life chasing the almighty dollar.
ante up
- to pay money, to produce a necessary amount of money
I had to ante up a lot of money to get my car fixed.
as phony as a three-dollar bill
- phony, not genuine
The man who was asking for donations for the charity was as phony as a three-dollar bill.
as poor as a church mouse
- very poor
The young mother is as poor as a church mouse and she has little money to feed her family.
as sound as a dollar
- very secure and dependable
The company president believes that his business is as sound as a dollar.
at a premium
- at a higher price than usual because of something special
The tickets for the final basketball game were selling at a premium.
at all costs
- at any expense of time/effort/money
We plan to send our child to a good school at all costs.
back on one`s feet
- to return to good financial health
My sister is back on her feet after losing her job last year.
balance the books/accounts
- to make sure that all money is accounted for by using generally accepted accounting methods
The small business owner works very hard to balance the books of her company.
below par
- lower than average, below normal, less than the face value of a bond/stock/currency
The government bonds were selling at a price that was below par.
bet one`s bottom dollar
- to bet all that one has on something because you are sure that you will win
I would bet my bottom dollar that the accounting manager will be late again today.
bet on the wrong horse
- to base one`s plans on a wrong guess about the results of something
The businessman is betting on the wrong horse if he continues to support the other candidate for mayor.
beyond one's means
- more than one can afford
The young man was living beyond his means before he got his first job.
born with a silver spoon in one`s mouth
- to be born to wealth and comfort, to be born rich
The new student in our class was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and he has never worked in his life.
bottom dollar
- one`s last dollar
The man spent his bottom dollar on some new clothes to wear for his job interview.
bottom line
- the line in a financial statement that shows net income or loss
The bottom line in the company's financial statement was much worse than expected.
bottom line
- the final result, the main point
The bottom line was that we were unable to attend the conference because of our busy schedule.
bottom out
- to reach the lowest point
The value of the company's stock has recently appeared to bottom out.
bread and butter
- one's income, the source of someone's food
The man's business is his bread and butter and he works very hard to make it successful.
break even
- to have income equal to expenses
Our company was able to break even after only six months of operation.
break the bank
- to win all the money at a casino gambling table, to use all of one's money
The man broke the bank at the casino and walked away with a lot of money.
bring home the bacon
- to earn the family living, to earn a salary
I have been working hard all month bringing home the bacon for my family.
burn a hole in one`s pocket
- to stimulate someone to spend money quickly
The money was burning a hole in the man's pocket when he decided to go to the casino.
buy off (someone)
- to give money to someone to stop them from doing their duty
The man tried to buy off the politician but he refused to agree to the plan.
buy (something) for a song
- to buy something cheaply
I was able to buy my first house for a song.
by check
- by using a check
I paid for the hotel room by check.
can take (something) to the bank
- a statement is true, something is guaranteed to be successful
I believe that we can take the new business plan to the bank.
cash-and-carry
- selling something for cash only and with no delivery
We were able to get a good price on a sofa in a cash-and-carry deal at the furniture store.
cash in (something)
- to exchange coupons or bonds for their value in money
I cashed in a large number of my savings bonds in order to get some money to buy a car.
cash in on (something)
- to make money from an opportunity
The former basketball player cashed in on his popularity to open a very successful restaurant.
cash in one`s chips
- to exchange or sell something to get some money (from the chips used in a poker game)
I decided to cash in my chips and go back to school.
cash on the barrelhead
- money paid in cash when something is bought
I gave the salesman cash on the barrelhead for the used car.
caught short
- to not have enough money when you need it
I was caught short and had to borrow some money from my father last week.
cheapskate
- a person who will not spend much money, a stingy person
My friend is a cheapskate and will not even go to a movie with me.
chicken feed
- a small amount of money
The amount of money that I paid for the used car was chicken feed.
chip in (money)
- to contribute money for something, to pay jointly for something
Everybody in our office chipped in some money to buy a wedding present for our boss.
chisel (someone) out of (something)
- to cheat someone to get money or something
The criminal tried to chisel the small business owner out of much money.
clean up
- to make a lot of money, to make a big profit
I cleaned up at the horse races last year and I still have some of the money left.
cold hard cash
- cash/coins/bills
I paid for the stereo in cold hard cash.
control the purse strings
- to be in charge of the money in a business or a household
My sister controls the purse strings in her family.
cook the books/accounts
- to illegally change information in the accounting books in a company, to write down false numbers in the accounting books in a company
The accountant was cooking the books for more than one year before he was caught.
cost a pretty penny
- to cost a lot of money
It is going to cost a pretty penny to get my car fixed.
cost an arm and a leg
- to cost a lot of money
My new stereo system cost an arm and a leg.
cross (someone's) palm with silver
- to give money to someone in payment for a service
We had to cross the apartment manager's palm with silver in order to rent the apartment quickly.
cut one's losses
- to reduce one's losses of money or something else
The owners decided to sell the soccer team in order to cut their losses.
cut (someone) a check
- to write a check (usually used for a company which automatically produces a check with a computer)
The company cut me a check to pay me for my extra work.
cut (someone) off without a penny
- to stop giving someone a regular amount of money, to leave someone no money in a will
The wealthy businessman cut his son off without a penny when the young man refused to work hard.
cut-rate
- a price that is lower than usual
We went to a cut-rate furniture store to buy some new furniture for our apartment.
deadbeat
- a person who never pays the money that he or she owes
Recently, the government is trying to solve the problem of deadbeat dads who do not support their families.
a dime a dozen
- easy to get and therefore of little value
Used computers are a dime a dozen and have very little value.
dirt cheap
- extremely cheap
The land in the country was dirt cheap when we bought it.
dollar for dollar
- considering the cost
Dollar for dollar the new hotel is the best bargain in this city for tourists.
down-and-out
- having no money
My friend was down-and-out for many years before he got a job and began to make money.
draw interest
- (for money) to earn interest while it is on deposit at a bank
We put the money into our bank account so that it would draw interest.
Dutch treat
- a situation where each person pays his or her own share of the expenses
The movie was a Dutch treat so I did not have to pay for my date.
easy money
- money that you do not need to work hard to get
I was able to make some easy money from my job during the summer.
face value
- the value or price printed on a stamp/bond/note/paper money
The face value of the stamp was very low but it was worth a lot of money.
a fast buck
- money that is earned quickly and easily (and sometimes dishonestly)
The company tried to make a fast buck on the property but actually they lost a lot of money.
feed the kitty
- to contribute money to a special collection
Everybody had to feed the kitty in order to collect money for the party.
feel like a million dollars/bucks
- to feel wonderful, to feel well and healthy
Although I have been sick for a few weeks I feel like a million dollars today.
flat broke
- to have no money at all
I am flat broke and do not have enough money to pay my rent.
float a loan
- to get a loan, to arrange for a loan
I decided to float a loan to get some money to buy a new car.
a fool and his money are soon parted
- if a person acts unwisely with money he or she will soon lose it
A fool and his money are soon parted and when the young man got the money from his father he soon spent it.
foot the bill
- to pay for something
My sister will foot the bill for her daughter's education if she decides to go to university.
for a song
- at a low price, cheaply
We bought the car for a song and will use it on our holidays.
(not) for love or money
- not for anything, not for any price (usually used in the negative)
I would not want to have that man's job for love or money.
for my money
- used before you say something to show that it is your opinion
"For my money, I believe that the new company policy will not be successful."
for peanuts
- for very little money
The man had no money and was willing to work for peanuts.
fork money out (for something)
- to pay for something
I had to fork much money out to get my car fixed.
fork over (some money)
- to pay money for something
I forked over much money for the painting that is hanging on my wall.
free and clear
- (to own something) completely and without owing any money
Our neighbor owns his house free and clear.
from rags to riches
- from poverty to wealth
The man went from rags to riches with his hard work and effort.
get a run for one's money
- to receive a challenge, to receive what one deserves
The man got a run for his money when he decided to volunteer for the cleaning project.
get along on a shoestring
- to be able to live on very little money
The woman was forced to get along on a shoestring when she was a student.
get one's money's worth
- to get everything (or even a little more) that one has paid for
We got our money's worth when we were able to spend the day at the water park.
give (someone) a blank check
- to let someone act as they want or as they think is necessary (like a check that has the amount left blank)
The police department gave the new committee a blank check to try and solve the homeless problem.
give (someone) a run for their money
- to give someone a challenge, to give someone what they deserve
The young candidate for the city park board gave the more experienced candidates a run for their money during the election.
go broke
- to lose all one`s money, to become bankrupt
My uncle started a company last year but it quickly went broke.
go Dutch
- to share in the cost of a meal or some other event
We decided to go Dutch when we went to the restaurant for dinner.
go to the expense (of doing something)
- to pay the cost of doing something
I did not want to go to the expense of buying a new sofa for our apartment.
going rate
- the current rate
The going rate for used bicycles is not very much.
gravy train
- a job or some work that pays more than it is worth
The job was a gravy train and I made a lot of money when I worked there.
grease (someone`s) palm
- to pay for a special favor or for extra help, to bribe someone
We had to grease the palm of the hotel manager to get a room.
a handout
- a gift of money (usually from the government)
The bus company has received many handouts from the government.
hard up
- to not have much money
The man is always hard up for money and he often wants to borrow some.
have an itchy/itching palm
- to ask for tips or money
The hotel clerk has an itchy palm and he is always asking for money.
have one's hand in the till
- to be stealing money from a company or an organization
The clerk had her hand in the till so we decided to fire her.
have money to burn
- to have very much money, to have more money than is needed
My aunt has money to burn and she is always travelling somewhere.
have sticky fingers
- to be a thief
The new employee has sticky fingers and many things in the store have disappeared.
have the Midas touch
- to have the ability to make money easily (King Midas turned everything that he touched into gold)
My uncle has the Midas touch and every business that he starts makes a lot of money.
(not) have two cents to rub together
- to not have much money
My friend does not have two cents to rub together and he is usually broke.
He who pays the piper calls the tune
- the person who pays for something has control over how the money is used
He who pays the piper calls the tune and the owner of the sports team can decide who will play on the team.
head over heels in debt
- to be deeply in debt
My cousin is head over heels in debt and has no money at all.
heads or tails
- the face of a coin or the other side of the coin
The referee threw the coin to see if it would be heads or tails.
highway robbery
- the charging of a high price for something
The amount of money that the company is charging for its services is highway robbery.
hit pay dirt
- to make a valuable discovery, to find the dirt in which much gold is found
We hit pay dirt when we got the rights to distribute the new product.
hit the jackpot
- to make a lot of money suddenly (usually from gambling)
We hit the jackpot at the casino and came home with a lot of money.
honor (someone's) check
- to accept someone's personal check
The bank refused to honor my check for the apartment rent.
ill-gotten gains
- money acquired in a dishonest or illegal manner
The ill-gotten gains of the politician were the subject of a large government inquiry.
in clover
- in a very good financial situation
My aunt and uncle have been in clover since my uncle got his new job.
in debt
- owing money
The man is in debt and owes much money to many people.
in kind
- in goods rather than money
I paid for the work on my car in kind rather than with actual cash.
in the black
- to be profitable, to make money
Our company has been in the black since it started.
in the chips
- with much money, wealthy
My grandfather was in the chips after they discovered oil on his farm.
in the hole
- to be in debt, to owe money
I think that we are now in the hole and our business is having trouble.
in the money
- to be wealthy, to suddenly get a lot of money
I am in the money now that I won the lottery.
in the red
- to be unprofitable, to be losing money, to be in debt
The company has been in the red for several months now and will soon go bankrupt.
jack up (the price)
- to raise the price of something
The store jacked up the prices of their summer stock at the beginning of the summer.
keep books
- to keep records of money that is earned and spent
Our accountant is keeping careful books of all the transactions in the company.
keep the wolf from the door
- to earn enough money to maintain oneself at a minimal level of existence
The job does not pay very well but it is enough to keep the wolf from the door.
kickback
- money paid illegally for favorable treatment
The politician received several illegal kickbacks and he was forced to resign.
last of the big spenders
- a humorous way to describe someone who spends a lot of money for something (although he or she may not want to spend it)
The man is pretending to be the last of the big spenders as he spends money on his family.
lay away money
- to save money
I am trying hard to lay away enough money to buy a car.
lay out (money)
- to spend/pay money
I had to lay out a lot of money to get my car fixed so now I do not have much money.
layaway plan
- a plan in which one pays some money as a downpayment and then pays a little more when one is able and the store holds the goods until the full price is paid
We bought our furniture on the layaway plan at the store.
let the buyer beware
- let the person who buys something check to see if the product is in good condition or has no problems
Consumers of electronic products should remember the motto of "let the buyer beware," when they buy something.
live beyond one's means
- to spend more money than you can afford
The girl is living beyond her means and will soon have some serious financial problems.
live from hand to mouth
- to live on little money
My friend has been living from hand to mouth and is now using his savings from his previous job.
live high off the hog
- to have the best of everything, to live in great comfort
My mother and father have been living high off the hog since they won the lottery.
live within one's means
- to spend no more money than one has
I try very hard to live within my means so that I do not have any financial pressure.
loaded
- to have lots of money
My uncle is loaded and he has lots of money.
look like a million dollars
- to look very good
The woman looked like a million dollars when she went to accept the award.
lose one`s shirt
- to lose all or most of one`s money
I lost my shirt in a small business and now I have no money.
(not) made of money
- to not have a lot of money (usually used in the negative to say that you do not have enough money for something)
My friend is not made of money and he has difficulty paying for his children's education.
make a bundle/pile
- to make a lot of money
I made a bundle on the stock market and decided to buy a house.
make a check out to (someone)
- to write a check with someone's name on it
I made a check out to the man who repaired my bathroom.
make a fast/quick buck
- to make money with little effort
The young man is very lazy and he is always trying to make a fast buck.
make a killing
- to make a large amount of money
My sister made a killing when she worked overseas in the oil industry.
make a living
- to earn enough money to live
The man works hard to make a living and support his family.
make ends meet
- to have enough money to pay one`s bills
I have been having trouble making ends meet because the rent for my apartment is very high.
make good money
- to earn a large amount of money
My friend makes good money at his new job.
make/spend/lose money hand over fist
- to make/spend/lose money fast and in large amounts
My cousin has been making money hand over fist with her business.
money burns a hole in (someone's) pocket
- someone spends money very quickly, someone is stimulated to spend money quickly
The money was burning a hole in my pocket so I went downtown to spend it.
money doesn't grow on trees
- money is valuable and you should not waste it
Money doesn't grow on trees and it is necessary to work hard and manage it well.
money is no object
- it does not matter how much something costs
Money is no object and I plan to stay in the best hotels during my holiday.
(one's) money is on (someone)
- you think that someone will win a competition/sports event etc.
My money is on the young horse that is racing for the first time today.
money is the root of all evil
- money causes most problems/wrongdoings in life
Many people believe that money is the root of all evil and that it causes people many problems.
money talks
- money gives one the power to get or do what he or she wants
Money talks and when I go to a restaurant with my rich uncle we always get a very good table.
nest egg
- the money that someone has saved up
I made a nest egg when I was working and I am now able to go to school.
nickel and dime (someone)
- to charge many small amounts of money (which eventually equal a large amount of money)
The small repairs on my car are beginning to nickel and dime me.
not for love nor money
- not for anything (no matter what the amount/price)
I will not meet with that woman for love nor money.
on a dime
- in a very small space
I had to turn my car on a dime when I entered the parking lot.
on a shoestring
- with little money to spend, on a very low budget
My cousin started his business on a shoestring but now it is very successful.
on credit
- to buy something using credit
I bought the new stereo on credit.
on sale
- for sale at a discounted price
The DVD's were on sale when I bought them.
on the house
- paid for by the owner of a business
We went to the restaurant and all of the drinks were on the house.
on the money
- exactly the right place/time/amount of something, exactly the right idea
Our supervisor's estimate of next year's budget is right on the money.
on the take
- to be accepting bribes
The agent at the border crossing seems to be on the take.
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