Money idioms and phrases

The word money is used in a large number of idiomatic expressions.

Be in the money

When you are in the money, you become rich all of a sudden. You may have won a lottery or inherited a large amount of money from your parents.

• Now that he is in the money, he has started ignoring his old friends.

Be right on the money

When you are right on the money, you are exactly right.

• Your guess was right on the money.

The best thing that money can buy

This expression is used to suggest that something is of high quality.

• Every parent wants to give their children the best education that money can buy.

For my money

You can use this expression to emphasize that what you are going to say is correct.

• For my money, you can’t depend on that guy. (= I believe that you can’t depend on that guy.)

Get your money’s worth

When you get your money’s worth, what you have bought is worth the money you paid for it.

• It is an expensive laptop but you get your money’s worth.

Have money to burn

You can use this expression if you feel that somebody is spending too much money on things they don’t need.

• He must have money to burn; otherwise, he wouldn’t have bought that used car for $5,000.

Have more money than sense

This is another expression used to refer to a person who spends their money on things they don’t need.

Put your money where your mouth is

To put your money where your mouth is to do something, especially spend money, to show that you mean what you say.

• If the government cares about the environment, it should put its money where its mouth is and scrap the controversial power project.

Someone isn’t made of money

If you aren’t made of money, you don’t have large amounts of money.

• My dad isn’t made of money, but he earns enough to support our family.

Money is no object

Use to suggest that you have got enough money to buy whatever you want.

• I want the best laptop you have got. Money is no object.

Money talks

This is used to suggest that rich people are more influential than others.

• You can’t compete against your rich neighbour. She will get her way. Money talks, you know.

My money is on somebody/something

When your money is on somebody you believe that they are going to win.

• ‘Who do you think will win this World Cup?’ ‘My money is on Argentina.’

Put money on something

When you say somebody can put money on something, you are absolutely certain that it will happen.

• She will win. You can put money on it.

Spend money like water

To spend money like water is to spend it in a careless way. The expression ‘throw your money around’ also means the same.

• Sam never takes his wife out on shopping. She spends money like water.