money
Idioms (30)
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cost an arm and a leg
CEFR B1To be extremely expensive.
Informal -
pay through the nose
CEFR B2To pay a far higher price for something than it is really worth.
Informal -
tighten your belt
CEFR B1To spend less money because you have less than before.
Neutral -
in the red
CEFR B2Owing money or operating at a financial loss.
Neutral -
make ends meet
CEFR B1To earn just enough money to cover your basic expenses.
Neutral -
bring home the bacon
CEFR B2To earn the money that supports a household.
Informal -
a rip-off
CEFR B1Something that is far too expensive for what it is.
Informal -
break the bank
CEFR B2To cost so much that it uses up all your money.
Informal -
foot the bill
CEFR B2To pay for something, especially something expensive.
Neutral -
money doesn't grow on trees
CEFR B1Used to remind someone that money is limited and hard to earn.
Informal -
tighten the purse strings
CEFR C1To become more careful and strict about spending money.
Neutral -
bang for your buck
CEFR B1the value or impact you get for the money or effort spent
Informal -
kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
CEFR C1to destroy a reliable source of future profit through greed or short-term thinking
Neutral -
rob Peter to pay Paul
CEFR C1to pay one debt by creating another
Informal -
penny wise, pound foolish
CEFR C1being careful with small amounts of money while wasting large amounts
Neutral -
save for a rainy day
CEFR B1to put money aside for future emergencies
Neutral -
nest egg
CEFR B2a sum of money saved for retirement or the future
Neutral -
live paycheck to paycheck
CEFR B2to spend all of each salary before the next one arrives, with no savings
Neutral -
go Dutch
CEFR B2to share the cost of a meal or outing equally
Informal -
keep up with the Joneses
CEFR B2to try to match the lifestyle of the people around you
Neutral -
put your money where your mouth is
CEFR B2to back up your words with action, especially money
Informal -
to the tune of
CEFR B2amounting to a stated, usually substantial, quantity or sum
Neutral -
cost the earth
CEFR B2to be extraordinarily expensive
Informal -
down at heel
CEFR C1shabby, worn, or neglected in appearance, often because of poverty
Neutral -
make a killing
CEFR B2to earn a very large amount of money quickly
Informal -
on a shoestring
CEFR B2With very little money or an extremely limited budget.
Neutral -
pick up the tab
CEFR B2to cover a bill yourself, often for a group after a meal or other outing
Neutral -
live it up
CEFR B1to celebrate or indulge freely, usually by spending more than usual
Informal -
sell like hot cakes
CEFR B1to be bought rapidly and in great numbers because many people want it
Neutral -
money talks
CEFR B2financial power can strongly influence what people decide or do
Neutral