Money Idioms

Some may say money is the root of all evil, while others argue that money talks. Some would agree that money can’t buy happiness, whereas others’ ultimate goal in life is to become a multi-millionaire. Regardless of what your take on moolah might be like, living in a capitalistic society – especially in the States where consumption is encouraged more than any other countries in the world – keeps us think about the value or worth of money in life. 

This week, let us work on some interesting idiomatic expressions which contain or are related to money.

(*source from https://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/moneyidioms.html and http://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/money/money2_deep-house.html )

Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences with a proper expression for each (using the clues given below the questions)

1.   I love this house because it gives me a sense of coziness, but the other _________________________ is that it is very old.

2.   Roger had already been in deep debt, but took another loan to pay his employees, robbing __________________________________.

3.   Due to the recent crisis in this town, there are more people __________________________ than ever before.

4.   Jody got a part time job at a candy store, but it was just ____________________________.

5.   You can bet ______________________________ that Ted will be come to the party tonight. He NEVER EVER goes even to a small ice cream social on campus.

6.   Laura has recently been given a _____________________________ from the company where she’s worked all her life. She will use some of the money to travel abroad.

7.   If you got some ______________ in your savings, just save it for rainy days.

8.   Well, you may not have thought much of this actor at first, but he ________________________________________ with his latest film! He even won the award for the best actor of the year at the Oscar!

9.   Oil prices are the biggest of all ________________________.

10. Frank had ___________________________________ and got caught at the international airport before he came to flee. He was eventually sent to prison on charges of embezzlement.

<Clues>

dough: (noun) slang for money

to laugh all the way to the bank: (verb) to be amused and gratified by a victory where a defeat was predicted   or    to make a lot of money very easily, often because someone else has been stupid

a cash cow: (noun) a business or a part of a business that always makes a lot of profit

the other side of the coin: (noun) the opposite view of something

(to be) on the breadline: (phrase) to have a very low income or barely enough money to survive.

to rob Peter to pay Paul: (verb) to borrow money from one person to pay back money you borrowed from someone else

to have hand (or one’s fingers) in the till: (verb) to steal money from the place where you work/ to embezzle

to bet your bottom dollar: (verb) to be absolutely certain of something

chicken feed: (noun) an amount of money considered small or unimportant

golden handshake: (noun) a generous sum of money given to a person when they leave a company or retire (sometimes given to encourage early retirement)

<Answer Key>

1.   side of the coin

2.   Peter to pay Paul

3.   on the breadline

4.   chicken feed

5.   your bottom dollar

6.   golden handshake

7.   dough

8.   laughed all the way to the bank

9.   cash cows

10. hand in the till/ or his fingers in the till