Idioms are fun expressions that mean something different from the literal words inside them. People use them to describe saving, spending, and handling money in a colorful and creative way. In this article, you will learn fifty interesting idioms related to money.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean wealth and spending. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Money
1. Cost an arm and a leg
Definition: When something is extremely expensive and costs a lot of money.
Used in a Sentence: I wanted to buy the giant toy robot, but it cost an arm and a leg. / Those brand new light-up sneakers cost an arm and a leg, so I saved my allowance instead.
Similar Expressions: Very expensive / Super costly
2. Save for a rainy day
Definition: Saving money for a time in the future when you might really need it.
Used in a Sentence: I put half of my weekly allowance into my piggy bank to save for a rainy day. / Squirrels gather extra nuts in autumn to save for a rainy day.
Similar Expressions: Put money aside / Save for later
3. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
Definition: Being born into a very wealthy family with many financial advantages.
Used in a Sentence: He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so he worked hard for his pocket money. / Living in a huge mansion made it seem like she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Similar Expressions: Born rich / Privileged start
4. Break the bank
Definition: To spend an enormous amount of money that exhausts all your savings.
Used in a Sentence: Buying tickets for the entire family to visit the amusement park will not break the bank. / We wanted a modest snack so we would not break the bank at the store.
Similar Expressions: Cost too much / Empty savings
5. Penny for your thoughts
Definition: Asking someone what they are thinking about right at that moment.
Used in a Sentence: You look very quiet today, penny for your thoughts? / Dad smiled and asked me for a penny for your thoughts while we waited in line.
Similar Expressions: Tell me your thoughts / What are you thinking
6. Pretty penny
Definition: A very large sum of money paid for something.
Used in a Sentence: That shiny new bicycle must have cost her parents a pretty penny. / Fixing the broken skateboard wheel cost a pretty penny at the repair shop.
Similar Expressions: Large amount / Expensive price
7. In the red
Definition: Having less money than you owe, meaning you are in debt.
Used in a Sentence: Buying too many video games put his savings account in the red. / The small club account was in the red until we sold handmade crafts to raise funds.
Similar Expressions: Owning money / Negative balance
8. In the black
Definition: Having extra money and running a successful financial account.
Used in a Sentence: Our class fundraiser was so successful that our club budget stayed in the black. / Working extra chores helped keep my piggy bank safely in the black.
Similar Expressions: Profitable / Financially healthy
9. Make a fast buck
Definition: Earning money quickly, often through easy or questionable methods.
Used in a Sentence: Do not try to make a fast buck by selling fake tickets to the school show. / Earning money requires honest work, not just trying to make a fast buck.
Similar Expressions: Quick money / Fast profit
10. Piggy bank
Definition: A small container shaped like a pig used by children to save coins.
Used in a Sentence: I dropped three shiny quarters into my ceramic piggy bank before going to sleep. / Counting the coins inside my piggy bank is my favorite weekend activity.
Similar Expressions: Coin container / Savings jar
11. Nest egg
Definition: Money saved carefully over a long period for future needs.
Used in a Sentence: My parents built a small nest egg to help pay for college tuition later. / Saving allowance coins creates a nice nest egg for future treats.
Similar Expressions: Saved funds / Future savings
12. Foot the bill
Definition: To pay for the cost of something, such as a meal or outing.
Used in a Sentence: Grandma offered to foot the bill for our ice cream cones after the park. / My uncle was kind enough to foot the bill for our family dinner.
Similar Expressions: Pay for it / Cover the cost
13. Money to burn
Definition: Having an excess amount of cash to spend on fun things.
Used in a Sentence: After doing extra chores all month, he felt like he had money to burn at the arcade. / Do not spend all your allowance just because you feel like you have money to burn.
Similar Expressions: Extra cash / Plenty of funds
14. Tighten your belt
Definition: Spending less money because you have less available.
Used in a Sentence: We had to tighten our belt this month after buying school supplies and new shoes. / Saving for a bicycle means you must tighten your belt on candy purchases.
Similar Expressions: Cut spending / Spend less
15. Live beyond your means
Definition: Spending more money than you actually earn or have saved.
Used in a Sentence: Buying expensive toys every day means you are living beyond your means. / To avoid debt, never try living beyond your means.
Similar Expressions: Overspend / Spend too much
16. Pay top dollar
Definition: Paying the highest possible price for a high-quality item.
Used in a Sentence: Collectors are willing to pay top dollar for rare vintage baseball cards. / You do not need to pay top dollar to find a good winter jacket.
Similar Expressions: Pay maximum price / High cost
17. Chip in
Definition: Contributing a small amount of money together with others to buy a gift.
Used in a Sentence: We all decided to chip in five dollars to buy our teacher a farewell present. / If everyone chips in a few coins, we can buy a pizza for the party.
Similar Expressions: Share the cost / Contribute funds
18. Clean out someone’s pockets
Definition: Taking all of someone’s money through purchases or games.
Used in a Sentence: Buying those expensive video game upgrades cleaned out my pockets completely. / The arcade games quickly cleaned out my pockets of all my quarters.
Similar Expressions: Spend everything / Empty wallet
19. Born with a golden spoon
Definition: Growing up in a very rich and financially comfortable family.
Used in a Sentence: He never had to worry about saving for toys because he was born with a golden spoon. / Living a life born with a golden spoon is very different from earning your own allowance.
Similar Expressions: Wealthy start / Rich background
20. Make ends meet
Definition: Having just enough money to pay for your basic needs like food and rent.
Used in a Sentence: Working two jobs helped the family make ends meet during difficult months. / Budgeting our grocery shopping helps us make ends meet easily.
Similar Expressions: Cover expenses / Pay bills
21. Flat broke
Definition: Having absolutely zero money left in your possession.
Used in a Sentence: After buying the comic book and candy, I was flat broke until next week’s allowance. / Do not spend all your cash or you will be flat broke by Saturday.
Similar Expressions: Out of money / Penniless
22. Roll in money
Definition: Having an immense and overflowing amount of wealth.
Used in a Sentence: The cartoon character Scrooge McDuck loved to swim and roll in money. / Winning the lottery made them feel like they were rolling in money.
Similar Expressions: Super rich / Extremely wealthy
23. Pay through the nose
Definition: Paying an unreasonably high price for something ordinary.
Used in a Sentence: We had to pay through the nose for popcorn at the movie theater. / Buying parking spots near the stadium means you pay through the nose.
Similar Expressions: Pay too much / Expensive fee
24. Money talks
Definition: Meaning that wealthy people or large amounts of cash have more power and influence.
Used in a Sentence: People say money talks when large businesses sponsor community projects. / He believes money talks louder than words when funding new inventions.
Similar Expressions: Wealth has power / Cash rules
25. Throw money down the drain
Definition: Wasting cash on foolish or useless items.
Used in a Sentence: Buying a toy that breaks instantly is just throwing money down the drain. / Do not throw money down the drain on arcade games you do not enjoy.
Similar Expressions: Waste cash / Foolish spending
26. Not for all the tea in China
Definition: Refusing to do something even if you were offered an enormous reward of money.
Used in a Sentence: I would not ride that scary rollercoaster not for all the tea in China. / He refused to give up his puppy not for all the tea in China.
Similar Expressions: For no amount / Absolutely not
27. Pass the hat
Definition: Collecting small donations of money from a group of people.
Used in a Sentence: The club decided to pass the hat to raise funds for the animal shelter. / We passed the hat around the room to buy birthday treats.
Similar Expressions: Collect donations / Gather funds
28. Cash cow
Definition: A business or project that continuously brings in a lot of money.
Used in a Sentence: The lemonade stand turned out to be a cash cow during the hot summer afternoon. / That popular video game franchise became a steady cash cow for the creators.
Similar Expressions: Money maker / Profitable source
29. He who pays the piper calls the tune
Definition: The person who provides the money gets to make the final decisions.
Used in a Sentence: Since dad is paying for the pizza toppings, he gets to choose because he who pays the piper calls the tune. / The sponsor gets to pick the movie title since he who pays the piper calls the tune.
Similar Expressions: Payers decide / Funding rules
30. A fool and his money are soon parted
Definition: Careless people quickly spend or lose all their cash on foolish things.
Used in a Sentence: Buying five silly hats you never wear shows a fool and his money are soon parted. / Save your coins wisely because a fool and his money are soon parted.
Similar Expressions: Wasteful spending / Careless loss
31. Put your money where your mouth is
Definition: Backing up your talk with actual financial support or actions.
Used in a Sentence: If you care about recycling, put your money where your mouth is and donate to the park clean-up. / He promised to help fund the library, so now he needs to put his money where his mouth is.
Similar Expressions: Back words with cash / Support actively
32. Penny wise and pound foolish
Definition: Being extremely careful with small amounts of money while wasting large sums.
Used in a Sentence: Walking miles to save a nickel on candy while losing a ten-dollar bill is penny wise and pound foolish. / Saving pennies on cheap shoes that break instantly is penny wise and pound foolish.
Similar Expressions: Small savings big losses / Careless budget
33. Pinch pennies
Definition: Being very careful and thrifty with every small coin you spend.
Used in a Sentence: Grandma learned to pinch pennies during her childhood to save for college. / You have to pinch pennies if you want to buy that expensive bicycle.
Similar Expressions: Be thrifty / Save carefully
34. Keep your head above water
Definition: Managing to survive financially without falling into debt.
Used in a Sentence: Working extra hours helped our family keep our head above water this winter. / Budgeting my allowance keeps my savings account’s head above water.
Similar Expressions: Avoid debt / Stay afloat
35. Make a mint
Definition: Earning a massive amount of money from a successful project.
Used in a Sentence: Inventing a popular new board game helped him make a mint. / The bakery made a mint selling cookies during the school fair.
Similar Expressions: Earn a fortune / Make big money
36. Worth every penny
Definition: Something that cost money but turned out to be exceptionally valuable or fun.
Used in a Sentence: The ticket to the science museum was worth every penny because we learned so much. / That helpful art instruction book was worth every penny.
Similar Expressions: Great value / Well spent
37. Clean up
Definition: Making a large profit or earning a lot of money unexpectedly.
Used in a Sentence: Our school book fair helped us clean up with funds for new library books. / He sold his old comic books and really cleaned up at the garage sale.
Similar Expressions: Make a profit / Earn big
38. Money doesn’t grow on trees
Definition: Reminding someone that money is hard to earn and should not be wasted.
Used in a Sentence: Do not ask for another video game today because money does not grow on trees. / Mom reminded me that money does not grow on trees when I wasted art supplies.
Similar Expressions: Hard earned cash / Be careful spending
39. On the house
Definition: Food or items given away for free by a business without charging money.
Used in a Sentence: The friendly baker gave us a free cookie on the house after our sports win. / Our meal came with complimentary juice on the house.
Similar Expressions: Free of charge / Compliment of store
40. Golden handshake
Definition: A large sum of money given to someone when they leave a job.
Used in a Sentence: The retiring manager received a golden handshake of extra pay for his long service. / Leaving the company with a golden handshake helped him start his own hobby shop.
Similar Expressions: Departure bonus / Exit reward
41. Money burn a hole in your pocket
Definition: An intense urge to spend money the moment you receive it.
Used in a Sentence: As soon as I got my birthday allowance, it burned a hole in my pocket until I bought a book. / Do not let allowance money burn a hole in your pocket before you save some.
Similar Expressions: Eager to spend / Fast spender
42. Hit the jackpot
Definition: Winning a massive amount of money or having incredible luck.
Used in a Sentence: Finding a rare vintage comic book at the garage sale felt like hitting the jackpot. / Winning the raffle prize meant our club hit the jackpot for equipment funds.
Similar Expressions: Great luck / Win big
43. Stinking rich
Definition: An informal way to describe someone who has an enormous amount of money.
Used in a Sentence: The billionaire character in the story was stinking rich and lived in a castle. / Winning multiple lotteries made people think he was stinking rich.
Similar Expressions: Extremely wealthy / Super rich
44. Bottom dollar
Definition: Your very last piece of money or remaining savings.
Used in a Sentence: I spent my bottom dollar on a cold juice box after the soccer game. / I bet my bottom dollar that our team will win the tournament.
Similar Expressions: Last coin / Remaining cash
45. Topped up
Definition: Adding more money to an account or container when it gets low.
Used in a Sentence: My dad topped up my bus transit card before the school week started. / Make sure your savings jar is topped up before planning a trip.
Similar Expressions: Refilled funds / Added cash
46. Price tag
Definition: The paper label showing how much money an item costs.
Used in a Sentence: I checked the price tag on the jacket before bringing it to the register. / Removing the price tag from the birthday gift is important before wrapping it.
Similar Expressions: Cost label / Price marker
47. Payday
Definition: The specific day of the week when workers receive their earned money.
Used in a Sentence: My mother looks forward to payday so we can go grocery shopping for treats. / Working extra chores makes Saturday feel like my personal payday.
Similar Expressions: Wage day / Pay check day
48. Small change
Definition: Coins of very little financial value.
Used in a Sentence: I emptied my pocket of small change to buy a piece of bubble gum. / Finding small change in the sofa cushions is always a fun surprise.
Similar Expressions: Loose coins / Pocket change
49. Silver lining of profit
Definition: Finding a financial benefit hidden inside a difficult situation.
Used in a Sentence: Losing our old lemonade stand spot led us to a busier corner, creating a silver lining of profit. / Even though the game was rained out, selling umbrellas brought a silver lining of profit.
Similar Expressions: Financial upside / Profitable twist
50. Pay your way
Definition: Paying for your own expenses and living costs independently.
Used in a Sentence: Getting a summer job taught me how to pay your way for personal items. / Adults work hard to pay their way through life.
Similar Expressions: Pay expenses / Be self-supporting
Exercise to Practice
- I wanted to buy the giant toy robot, but it cost an arm and a leg.
- I put half of my weekly allowance into my piggy bank to save for a rainy day.
- Buying too many video games put his savings account in the black with heavy debt.
- Our class fundraiser was so successful that our club budget stayed in the black.
- That shiny new bicycle must have cost her parents a pretty penny.
- Buying expensive toys every day means you are living beyond your means.
- My uncle was kind enough to foot the bill for our family dinner.
- Finding a rare vintage comic book at the garage sale felt like hitting the jackpot.
- As soon as I got my birthday allowance, I saved every coin and let it burn a hole in my pocket.
- The friendly baker gave us a free cookie on the house after our sports win.
- Grandma learned to pinch pennies during her childhood to save for college.
- Inventing a popular new board game helped him make a mint.
- Finding small change in the sofa cushions is always a fun surprise.
- Walking miles to save a nickel on candy while losing a ten-dollar bill is a great way to save money.
- The ticket to the science museum was worth every penny because we learned so much.
Answer Key
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you express financial habits, saving, and spending in colorful, everyday ways. Using them in your creative writing makes your stories much more engaging for readers.
Try using a few of these expressions when talking about allowance or writing stories about shopping today. You will see how much fun language can be!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for money?
Common idioms for money include cost an arm and a leg, save for a rainy day, and foot the bill. These expressions help describe spending, saving, and financial situations.
Why do we use idioms to talk about money?
We use these idioms to make our conversations and stories more colorful, relatable, and descriptive than plain words. Comparing expensive items to costing an arm and a leg paints a fun picture in the reader’s mind.
How can students learn money idioms easily?
Students can learn these idioms by connecting them to allowance and shopping, reading storybooks, and practicing with fun quizzes. Using them in descriptive writing also helps the meanings stick.
Are money idioms hard to understand?
They are quite simple once you look at the comparison, such as being flat broke or hitting the jackpot. Context clues in stories help make their figurative meanings clear.
Can I use these idioms in school writing?
Yes, using descriptive idioms in personal essays and creative stories makes your school work stand out. Just ensure you use them in the correct context and tone.
