Popular English Money Idioms
Here are 30 of the most common and useful English idioms related to money, wealth, costs, and spending, complete with their meanings and everyday examples:
1. Break the bank
Meaning: To cost too much money, or to completely use up all of one's financial resources.
Example: "We can go out for a nice dinner at that restaurant; it won't break the bank."
2. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: To be extremely expensive.
Example: "I would love to buy that designer winter coat, but it costs an arm and a leg."
3. Bring home the bacon
Meaning: To earn a steady income to support yourself and your family.
Example: "They both work incredibly hard at their full-time jobs to bring home the bacon."
4. Bread and butter
Meaning: A person's main source of stable income or livelihood.
Example: "Teaching evening classes is my bread and butter, but I also do some freelance writing."
5. Penny for your thoughts
Meaning: A polite way of asking someone what they are thinking about when they have been quiet for a long time.
Example: "You've been staring out of the window for ten minutes. A penny for your thoughts?"
6. In the red
Meaning: Spending more money than you are earning; owing money or operating at a financial loss.
Example: "The company has been in the red for three consecutive quarters due to poor retail sales."
7. In the black
Meaning: Earning more money than you spend; being financially successful and free of debt.
Example: "After a very busy holiday shopping season, our boutique shop is finally back in the black."
8. Pour money down the drain
Meaning: To misspend, waste, or throw away money completely on useless or unproductive things.
Example: "Paying for a luxury gym membership that you never use is simply pouring money down the drain."
9. Foot the bill
Meaning: To pay the final bill for something, especially when it is expensive or done for someone else.
Example: "Don't worry about ordering an extra dessert; my company is footing the bill today."
10. Time is money
Meaning: Time is a highly valuable resource, so tasks should be handled quickly without wasting any moments.
Example: "Please give me the short summary of the project proposal; remember that time is money."
11. Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
Meaning: Born into a highly privileged, wealthy, and successful family.
Example: "He has never had to struggle to find a job because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth."
12. Money doesn't grow on trees
Meaning: Money is limited and difficult to earn; you should not spend it carelessly or wastefully.
Example: "Turn off the lights when you leave the bedroom; money doesn't grow on trees!"
13. Tighten one's belt
Meaning: To spend less money than usual and live more economically because of financial difficulties.
Example: "Now that heating costs have gone up significantly, we will have to tighten our belts this winter."
14. Feel like a million dollars
Meaning: To feel exceptionally healthy, energetic, joyful, or confident in your appearance.
Example: "After getting a full night's rest and a new haircut, I feel like a million dollars."
15. Dirt cheap
Meaning: Extremely inexpensive; costing very little money.
Example: "We bought these beautiful fresh vegetables at the local market and they were dirt cheap."
16. Live from hand to mouth
Meaning: To survive with only just enough money to buy food and basic needs, without saving anything for the future.
Example: "Before he secured a stable corporate job, he was living from hand to mouth as a student."
17. Pay through the nose
Meaning: To pay an unreasonably high or excessive price for something.
Example: "We had to pay through the nose for last-minute hotel rooms during the peak festival weekend."
18. Nest egg
Meaning: A sum of money saved up over a long period for a specific future purpose, like retirement or buying a home.
Example: "They built up a comfortable nest egg by regularly putting away a small percentage of their salaries."
19. Scrape by
Meaning: To manage to survive financially with the bare minimum amount of money required.
Example: "When I first moved to London, I could barely scrape by on my entry-level salary."
20. Make ends meet
Meaning: To earn just enough money to pay for your essential monthly bills and living expenses.
Example: "With the rising cost of groceries, it is becoming more difficult for many families to make ends meet."
21. For a song
Meaning: Purchased very cheaply or for a remarkably low price.
Example: "The antique dealer didn't realize the value of the painting, so I bought it for a song."
22. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: To rely entirely on the complete success of a single plan, investment, or venture.
Example: "Spread your financial investments across different stocks; don't put all your eggs in one basket."
23. Flat broke
Meaning: Having absolutely no money at all.
Example: "I cannot join you for dinner tonight because I am flat broke until my next payday on Friday."
24. Smart money
Meaning: The collective opinion or action of expert, knowledgeable, or experienced investors.
Example: "The smart money is moving away from commercial real estate and into emerging tech fields."
25. Money talks
Meaning: Wealth and financial power can influence outcomes, buy privileges, or get things done far more effectively than words.
Example: "The developers managed to get the building permits approved overnight; money talks."
26. Rolling in money
Meaning: Being incredibly wealthy; having far more money than is actually needed.
Example: "Ever since her technology company went public on the stock market, she has been rolling in money."
27. On a shoestring budget
Meaning: Running an operation, project, or event with an incredibly small or restricted amount of money.
Example: "They started their small community podcast in a garage on a shoestring budget."
28. Quids in
Meaning: A British expression meaning to be in a position where you have made a clear financial profit or gained an advantage.
Example: "If we sell the old car for that high price, we will be quids in."
29. Balance the books
Meaning: To check that all incoming revenue matches outgoing expenses in an accounting ledger, or to ensure spending matches income.
Example: "Our accountant spent all afternoon working tirelessly to balance the books before the fiscal year concluded."
30. Save for a rainy day
Meaning: To regularly reserve a portion of your money for an unexpected future time of financial need or emergency.
Example: "Even when business is going exceptionally well, it is vital to keep saving for a rainy day."
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