English idioms: Money
12 idioms with meanings and example sentences, plus where many of them come from.
break the bankto cost more money than someone can afford, or to use up all of one's moneyA nice dinner out won't break the bank if you go somewhere modest.Origin: Originally from gambling, referring to a player winning more money than the casino's bank held.
tighten your beltto spend less money and live more frugally, usually because money is scarceAfter losing his job, he had to tighten his belt and cut all unnecessary expenses.Origin: Refers to the literal image of a hungry person tightening their belt as their waist shrinks from eating less.
cost an arm and a legto be very expensiveThat designer handbag cost her an arm and a leg.Origin: Believed to come from 20th-century American English, evoking the high price of losing a limb.
money doesn't grow on treesmoney is a limited resource that must be earned, not something that appears easilyI can't buy you a new phone every year, money doesn't grow on trees.Origin: A common parental saying used to teach children the value of money.
in the redto be in debt or losing moneyThe small business has been in the red for the past two quarters.Origin: Comes from the traditional accounting practice of recording losses in red ink.
in the blackto be profitable or financially solventAfter a rough first year, the startup finally moved into the black.Origin: Comes from the accounting practice of recording profits in black ink, as opposed to red ink for losses.
nest egga sum of money saved for the future, especially for retirementThey've been building a nest egg for their retirement since their twenties.Origin: Originally referred to a real or fake egg left in a nest to encourage a hen to keep laying more eggs there.
penny-pinchera person who is extremely careful, or overly reluctant, about spending moneyMy uncle is such a penny-pincher that he reuses tea bags three times.Origin: Refers to someone who squeezes or pinches every penny to avoid spending it.
live beyond your meansto spend more money than you can afford based on your incomeThey kept living beyond their means until the credit card debt became unmanageable.Origin: A straightforward phrase warning against spending in excess of one's earnings.
cash cowa reliable source of steady income or profit, often within a businessThe mobile app became a cash cow for the company, generating revenue year after year.Origin: Business jargon comparing a profitable product to a cow that can be milked repeatedly for income.
put your money where your mouth isto back up what you say with actual money or action, rather than just talkIf you really believe in the project, put your money where your mouth is and invest in it.Origin: American in origin, likely from betting culture where talk is cheap unless backed by a real wager.
a penny saved is a penny earnedmoney you save is just as valuable as money you earn, so it pays to be thriftyShe clips coupons every week because she believes a penny saved is a penny earned.Origin: Popularized by Benjamin Franklin, though similar sayings existed earlier in English.
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