Idioms about money turn ideas about earning, spending, saving, and wealth into memorable expressions.
Learn what familiar phrases mean and how to use them naturally, including a few distinctions that can prevent confusion.
What Are Money Idioms?
A money idiom is an established expression whose meaning goes beyond the literal sense of its words.
For example, “cost an arm and a leg” means something is very expensive; it does not describe an actual injury.
Idioms often make conversation more vivid, but their informal tone may not suit every setting.
Some expressions in this list are technically proverbs, slang, or familiar phrases rather than idioms in the strictest sense.
They are included because English speakers commonly use them to talk about money and financial circumstances.
Idioms About Spending and Cost
- Cost an arm and a leg: Be extremely expensive. “The concert tickets cost an arm and a leg.”
- Pay through the nose: Pay much more than seems reasonable. “We paid through the nose for a hotel near the station.”
- Money down the drain: Money wasted on something that brings no useful result. “Without regular maintenance, the new equipment could become money down the drain.”
- Splash out: Spend a relatively large amount on something enjoyable or special. “They splashed out on a weekend away for their anniversary.”
- Go Dutch: Each person pays for their own food or share of a bill. “We agreed to go Dutch at lunch.”
- Pick up the tab: Pay the bill for a group. “Maya picked up the tab after the team celebrated.”
- Foot the bill: Take responsibility for paying a cost, often a substantial one. “The company will foot the bill for the repairs.”
- Live beyond your means: Spend more than your income can support. “They cut back after realizing they were living beyond their means.”
Idioms About Saving and Managing Money
- Save for a rainy day: Keep money for a future emergency or difficult period. “She puts a little aside each month for a rainy day.”
- Tighten your belt: Reduce spending, often because money is limited. “After the rent increase, we had to tighten our belts.”
- Make ends meet: Earn or manage enough to cover necessary expenses. “It can be hard to make ends meet on one income.”
- Keep the wolf from the door: Have just enough money or supplies to avoid serious hardship. “The temporary job helped keep the wolf from the door.”
- Stretch your money: Make a limited amount cover more needs. “Planning meals ahead can help stretch your money.”
- Cut your losses: Stop an unsuccessful effort to avoid losing even more. “When the repair costs exceeded the car’s value, he decided to cut his losses.”
- Put your money where your mouth is: Support your stated beliefs or promises with action, often by contributing money or taking a risk. “If they believe in the project, they should put their money where their mouth is.”
Idioms About Wealth and Financial Circumstances
- Rolling in money: Very wealthy or apparently able to spend freely. “They act as if they’re rolling in money, but they still compare prices.”
- Born with a silver spoon in your mouth: Born into a wealthy or privileged family. “She wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth; she built the business herself.”
- From rags to riches: From poverty or modest circumstances to great wealth or success. “The biography tells a classic rags-to-riches story.”
- Worth your weight in gold: Extremely valuable or helpful. “A reliable babysitter is worth your weight in gold.”
- On a shoestring: With very little money. “They launched the community festival on a shoestring.”
- In the red: In debt or operating at a financial loss. “The shop was in the red during its first winter.”
- In the black: Financially successful or making a profit. “After a strong holiday season, the business was back in the black.”
- Cash-strapped: Short of money, typically for a period of time. “The cash-strapped school postponed its renovation.”
Common Expressions About Money and Value
- A penny for your thoughts: A friendly way to ask what someone is thinking. “You’ve been quiet—a penny for your thoughts?”
- Money doesn’t grow on trees: Money is limited and should not be wasted.
This is a proverb, often said to remind someone to spend carefully. “Choose one toy; money doesn’t grow on trees.” - Time is money: Time has economic value, so avoid unnecessary delays.
This is a proverb or maxim rather than an idiom in the narrow sense. “Let’s keep the meeting focused; time is money.” - For a song: At a very low price. “She bought the used desk for a song.”
How to Use Money Idioms Naturally
Choose an expression that fits both the situation and your audience. “Foot the bill” and “pick up the tab” both involve paying, but “foot the bill” often suggests responsibility for a larger or more formal expense, while “pick up the tab” is common when someone pays for a meal or group outing.
Pay attention to tone. “Money down the drain” is blunt, while “cut your losses” can sound practical and matter-of-fact.
In formal reports, contracts, financial advice, or academic writing, plain wording is usually clearer: say “the project wasted funds” rather than “the money went down the drain.”
Finally, use idioms in context rather than stringing several together.
A sentence such as “We tightened our belts to make ends meet” sounds natural because the expressions describe connected parts of one situation.
Adding unrelated phrases can make the meaning harder to follow.