Idioms About Money
Learn common English idioms and expressions related to money, wealth, and finances. These phrases help you talk about spending, saving, and financial situa
TL;DR: Learn common English idioms and expressions related to money, wealth, and finances. These phrases help you talk about spending, saving, and financial…
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Learn common English idioms and expressions related to money, wealth, and finances. These phrases help you talk about spending, saving, and financial situa
Idioms About Money
- Break the bank — To spend more money than you can afford or to cost a lot of money (e.g. Buying a new car would break the bank for our family right now.)
- Cash cow — A business or product that generates steady profits with little investment (e.g. The online subscription service has become a cash cow for the company.)
- Money to burn — To have a lot of money to spend freely (e.g. After winning the lottery, he had money to burn and traveled the world.)
- Tighten your belt — To reduce spending and live more economically (e.g. The company had to tighten its belt during the recession.)
- A penny for your thoughts — A way to ask someone what they are thinking about (e.g. You look upset—a penny for your thoughts?)
- Worth its weight in gold — Something very valuable or precious (e.g. That old painting turned out to be worth its weight in gold.)
- Put your two cents in — To share your opinion or contribute to a discussion (e.g. If you want to put your two cents in, I'm happy to listen.)
- Go belly-up — To fail financially or go bankrupt (e.g. The startup went belly-up after only six months in business.)
- Pot of gold — A valuable reward or prize that seems impossible to achieve (e.g. Landing that job was like finding a pot of gold for her career.)
- Filthy rich — To be extremely wealthy (e.g. The celebrity became filthy rich after starring in blockbuster films.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'break the bank' used to describe expensive things?
The phrase originates from gambling, where 'breaking the bank' meant winning all the money held by a casino, essentially depleting their funds. Today it means spending so much that you deplete your own financial resources.
Can these idioms be used in formal business communication?
Some, like 'cash cow' and 'go belly-up,' are commonly used in formal business contexts. Others like 'filthy rich' are more conversational. Context and audience determine appropriateness.
More Vocabulary Sets
- Idioms and Phrases A-Z Set 1
- Idioms and Phrases A-Z Set 2
- Idioms and Phrases A-Z Set 3
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- Idioms About Time
- Idioms About Body Parts
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