Money makes the world go ’round, and language reflects our deep connection to it. Have you ever wondered why we use certain phrases when talking about money?
These idioms add a colorful twist to our financial conversations. Let’s delve into the world of idioms for money and discover the hidden meanings behind these expressions.
What is an idiom for money?
Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They often have a figurative meaning that goes beyond the literal interpretation.
When it comes to money, idioms add flair to our discussions about wealth, spending, and financial situations.
| Idiom | Meaning | In a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Break the Bank | Spending more money than planned or having extravagant expenses. | Sarah wanted a new phone, but buying the latest model would break the bank. |
| Money Talks | Wealth has influence or power. | In business negotiations, it’s often true that money talks. |
| Penny for Your Thoughts | Asking someone what they are thinking or feeling. | When John looked upset, Mary asked, “A penny for your thoughts.” |
| Cash Cow | A reliable source of income or profit. | The successful franchise became a cash cow, bringing in profits for the company. |
| Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees | Money is not easily obtained; it requires effort and hard work. | Dad reminded the kids that money doesn’t grow on trees. |
| Pay Through the Nose | Paying a high price for something. | Jane loved the designer dress, but she had to pay through the nose to make it hers. |
| Roll in the Dough | Having a lot of money; being wealthy. | After winning the lottery, Tom felt like he was rolling in the dough. |
| Rake in the Cash | To earn a lot of money, often quickly. | The company’s new product was so popular that they began to rake in the cash. |
| A Dime a Dozen | Something common or easy to get. | Nowadays, smartphones are a dime a dozen, with many affordable options available. |
| Tighten Your Belt | To reduce spending; live frugally. | With unexpected expenses, the family had to tighten their belt and cut back on spending. |
| Go Dutch | Each person pays for their share of expenses. | When dining out with friends, they decided to go Dutch and split the bill evenly. |
| Two Cents Worth | Offering one’s opinion, often unsolicited. | Sarah always has her two cents worth to share, even when no one asks for it. |
| In the Black | Having a positive financial balance; making a profit. | After a successful quarter, the company was finally in the black. |
| In the Red | Having a negative financial balance; experiencing a loss. | After some tough months, the business found itself in the red and needed a strategy. |
| Throw Money Down the Drain | Wasting money on something with no return or benefit. | Buying an expensive gym membership and never using it felt like throwing money away. |
| Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is | Backing up words with actions; investing in what you believe. | If you believe in the cause, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. |
| Make a Killing | To earn a large amount of money, often in a short period. | The stock market investor made a killing when the share prices soared. |
| Money to Burn | Having more money than one needs. | After winning the lottery, Mark felt like he had money to burn and started planning extravagant vacations. |
| Cost an Arm and a Leg | Something very expensive. | Getting the car repaired turned out to cost an arm and a leg, much more than expected. |
| Feather in One’s Cap | An achievement or accomplishment. | Graduating with honors was a feather in her cap, showcasing her dedication to academics. |
| Money is the Root of All Evil | The belief that the pursuit of wealth leads to immoral behavior. | Grandma often reminded us that money is the root of all evil, emphasizing values over material gain. |
| Easy Come, Easy Go | Obtaining something easily, but losing it just as quickly. | Winning the lottery might seem like easy come, easy go, as some winners struggle to manage their newfound wealth. |
| Pinch Pennies | To be thrifty and save money. | While in college, Lisa had to pinch pennies to cover her living expenses. |
| Worth Its Weight in Gold | Something very valuable or useful. | The antique watch was a family heirloom, considered worth its weight in gold for its sentimental value. |
| Rob Peter to Pay Paul | Taking from one source to pay another, often creating a cycle of debt. | Using the credit card to pay off the loan was like robbing Peter to pay Paul, creating more financial problems. |
| Break the Piggy Bank | To use one’s savings, especially for an unexpected expense. | When the car broke down, Tim had to break the piggy bank to cover the repair costs. |
| Out of Pocket | Having spent one’s own money. | After treating his friends to dinner, James found himself out of pocket but happy to have shared a good meal. |
Metaphors can describe money in unique ways, like comparing it to the lifeblood of a business. To explore more metaphors for money, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Money. Similarly, similes provide comparisons that make money more relatable, such as saying it’s as elusive as a fleeting dream. Discover additional similes for money here: Similes for Money.
Idioms for Money
1. Break the Bank
Meaning: Spending more money than planned or having extravagant expenses.
In a Sentence: Sarah wanted a new phone, but buying the latest model would break the bank, so she opted for a more budget-friendly option.
2. Money Talks
Meaning: Wealth has influence or power.
In a Sentence: In business negotiations, it’s often true that money talks – those with more financial resources tend to have more influence.
3. Penny for Your Thoughts
Meaning: Asking someone what they are thinking or feeling.
In a Sentence: When John looked upset, Mary asked, “A penny for your thoughts,” hoping to understand his concerns.
4. Cash Cow
Meaning: A reliable source of income or profit.
In a Sentence: The successful franchise became a cash cow, bringing in profits for the company year after year.
5. Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees
Meaning: Money is not easily obtained; it requires effort and hard work.
In a Sentence: Dad reminded the kids that money doesn’t grow on trees, encouraging them to appreciate the value of hard work.
6. Pay Through the Nose
Meaning: Paying a high price for something.
In a Sentence: Jane loved the designer dress, but she had to pay through the nose to make it hers.
7. Roll in the Dough
Meaning: Having a lot of money; being wealthy.
In a Sentence: After winning the lottery, Tom felt like he was rolling in the dough.
8. Rake in the Cash
Meaning: To earn a lot of money, often quickly.
In a Sentence: The company’s new product was so popular that they began to rake in the cash.
9. A Dime a Dozen
Meaning: Something common or easy to get.
In a Sentence: Nowadays, smartphones are a dime a dozen, with many affordable options available.
10. Tighten Your Belt
Meaning: To reduce spending; live frugally.
In a Sentence: With unexpected expenses, the family had to tighten their belt and cut back on non-essential spending.
11. Go Dutch
Meaning: Each person pays for their share of expenses.
In a Sentence: When dining out with friends, they decided to go Dutch and split the bill evenly.
12. Two Cents Worth
Meaning: Offering one’s opinion, often unsolicited.
In a Sentence: Sarah always has her two cents worth to share, even when no one asks for it.
13. In the Black
Meaning: Having a positive financial balance; making a profit.
In a Sentence: After a successful quarter, the company was finally in the black.
14. In the Red
Meaning: Having a negative financial balance; experiencing a loss.
In a Sentence: After some tough months, the business found itself in the red and needed a strategy to turn things around.
15. Throw Money Down the Drain
Meaning: Wasting money on something with no return or benefit.
In a Sentence: Buying an expensive gym membership and never using it felt like throwing money down the drain.
16. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Meaning: Backing up words with actions; investing in what you believe.
In a Sentence: If you believe in the cause, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is and support it financially.
17. Make a Killing
Meaning: To earn a large amount of money, often in a short period.
In a Sentence: The stock market investor made a killing when the share prices soared.
18. Money to Burn
Meaning: Having more money than one needs.
In a Sentence: After winning the lottery, Mark felt like he had money to burn and started planning extravagant vacations.
19. Cost an Arm and a Leg
Meaning: Something very expensive.
In a Sentence: Getting the car repaired turned out to cost an arm and a leg, much more than expected.
20. Feather in One’s Cap
Meaning: An achievement or accomplishment.
In a Sentence: Graduating with honors was a feather in her cap, showcasing her dedication to academics.
21. Money is the Root of All Evil
Meaning: The belief that the pursuit of wealth leads to immoral behavior.
In a Sentence: Grandma often reminded us that money is the root of all evil, emphasizing the importance of values over material gain.
22. Easy Come, Easy Go
Meaning: Obtaining something easily, but losing it just as quickly.
In a Sentence: Winning the lottery might seem like easy come, easy go, as some winners struggle to manage their newfound wealth.
23. Pinch Pennies
Meaning: To be thrifty and save money.
In a Sentence: While in college, Lisa had to pinch pennies to cover her living expenses.
24. Worth Its Weight in Gold
Meaning: Something very valuable or useful.
In a Sentence: The antique watch was a family heirloom, considered worth its weight in gold for its sentimental value.
25. Rob Peter to Pay Paul
Meaning: Taking from one source to pay another, often creating a cycle of debt.
In a Sentence: Using the credit card to pay off the loan was like robbing Peter to pay Paul, creating more financial problems.
26. Break the Piggy Bank
Meaning: To use one’s savings, especially for an unexpected expense.
In a Sentence: When the car broke down, Tim had to break the piggy bank to cover the repair costs.
27. Out of Pocket
Meaning: Having spent one’s own money.
In a Sentence: After treating his friends to dinner, James found himself out of pocket but happy to have shared a good meal.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
Quiz 1: Break the Bank
- Question: What does the idiom “Break the Bank” mean?
- A. Saving a lot of money
- B. Spending more money than planned
- C. Investing wisely
- Question: In the article, how is the idiom “Break the Bank” used in a sentence?
- A. “The successful franchise became a break the bank.”
- B. “Sarah wanted a new phone, but buying the latest model would break the bank.”
- C. “Rolling in the dough is a way to break the bank.”
Quiz 2: Money Talks
- Question: What is the meaning of the idiom “Money Talks”?
- A. Money can speak
- B. Wealth has influence or power
- C. Discussing financial matters
- Question: How is the idiom “Money Talks” used in a sentence in the article?
- A. “Paying through the nose means money talks.”
- B. “In business negotiations, it’s often true that money talks.”
- C. “Rolling in the dough is another way money talks.”
Quiz 3: Penny for Your Thoughts
- Question: What does the idiom “Penny for Your Thoughts” mean?
- A. Offering someone money for their opinion
- B. Asking someone what they are thinking or feeling
- C. Discussing financial matters
- Question: How is the idiom “Penny for Your Thoughts” used in a sentence in the article?
- A. “Money talks, but sometimes a penny for your thoughts is more valuable.”
- B. “When John looked upset, Mary asked, ‘A penny for your thoughts.’”
- C. “Rolling in the dough is similar to a penny for your thoughts.”
Quiz 4: Cash Cow
- Question: What is the meaning of the idiom “Cash Cow”?
- A. A reliable source of income or profit
- B. A type of currency
- C. A wealthy individual
- Question: In the article, how is the idiom “Cash Cow” used in a sentence?
- A. “Breaking the bank can turn into a cash cow.”
- B. “The successful franchise became a cash cow.”
- C. “Rolling in the dough is another term for a cash cow.”
Quiz 5: Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees
- Question: What does the idiom “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees” mean?
- A. Money is easily obtained
- B. Money requires effort and hard work
- C. Money is a natural resource
- Question: How is the idiom “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees” used in a sentence in the article?
- A. “Dad reminded the kids that money grows on trees.”
- B. “Money talks, but money doesn’t grow on trees.”
- C. “Rolling in the dough means money grows on trees.”
Feel free to use these quizzes to test your knowledge of idioms for money!
Conclusion
Money idioms are more than just words; they reflect our attitudes and experiences with wealth. Understanding these expressions can add depth to our conversations and offer insights into the complexities of financial matters.
