Interesting Idioms About Money

When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is."
―Oscar Wilde

 Money is a central aspect of daily life, and naturally, there are as many idioms around it as there are sayings and jokes, although it's hard to tell if Oscar Wilde was joking or being wry (humorously sarcastic) when he said the words above. Anyhow, money idioms provide colorful and vivid ways to talk about financial situations, spending habits, and economic principles.

Here’s a look at some common idioms related to money along with examples:

1. To break the bank
Meaning: To spend more money than one can afford.
Example: We can go out for dinner, but let's not go anywhere that will break the bank.

2. To burn a hole in your pocket
Meaning: When someone is very eager to spend money.
Example: That bonus is burning a hole in his pocket; he’s already planning to buy a new car.

3. A cash cow
Meaning: A business or product that generates a steady, reliable stream of income.
Example: The new smartphone model has become the company’s cash cow.

4. To pay through the nose
Meaning: To pay a lot of money for something.
Example: They paid through the nose for their new apartment in the city center.

5. Old money
Meaning: People whose families have been rich for a long time; people who have inherited wealth
Example: She married into an old-money family that has owned farms and factories for over a century.

6. To pay top dollar
Meaning: To pay a lot of money, especially the highest possible price, for something
Example: In a recession, it gets harder to find customers who are willing to pay top dollar for this kind of personalized product.

7. To foot the bill
Meaning: To pay for something, usually something expensive.
Example: He generously offered to foot the bill for the entire dinner.
​
8. (To build) a nest egg
Meaning: Savings that are set aside for future use, especially for retirement.
Example: She’s been building up a nest egg for years so she can afford to take a break and think about what's next in her career.

9. To throw money down the drain 
Meaning: To waste money or spend it carelessly
Example: Buying expensive clothes that you never wear is throwing money down the drain.

10. To throw money around
Meaning: To spend money, especially in an obvious and careless way, on things that are not necessary
Example: Companies can no longer throw money around and spend lavishly on high-profile gatherings just for publicity.

11. To throw money at something
Meaning: To try to solve a problem by spending a lot of money on it but without really doing more thoughtful and practical things to improve it
Example: Because this problem is caused by many flaws in the system, we can't expect to solve it just by throwing money at it.

12. To cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: To be very expensive.
Example: Their much publicized wedding ceremony cost an arm and a leg.

13. To bring home the bacon
Meaning: To earn money to support a family; to achieve success
Examples: Being the only athlete from his country to compete in this sport, he felt so much pressure to bring home the bacon.
Both parents need to work hard to bring home the bacon in today's economy.

14. To go Dutch
Meaning: To go somewhere as a group but with each person paying for his or her own meal, ticket, etc.
Example: People resisted the idea of going to the sushi restaurant until I suggested that we just go Dutch, after which mostly everyone agreed.

15. ​To have deep pockets
Meaning: To have a lot of money or to be really wealthy
Example: I heard they travel abroad as much as five to six times a year. They must have deep pockets.

16. To make ends meet
Meaning: To have just enough money to pay for the things that you need.
Example: We struggled to make ends meet when we lived in the city center and had to pay expensive rent.

 Try to make your own sentences using these idioms but remember that idioms are fixed expressions so we cannot usually alter them in terms of word order or with synonyms. It's worth noting as well, that idioms are used sparingly--you're not expected to use an idiom in every sentence because that would really make you sound strange. 

To sum up, using these expressions can not only enhance your fluency but will also boost your comprehension of the language, making your communication more engaging.