Examples of Idioms About Money

The following are 20 examples of commonly used idioms about having money and spending money, or that use financial terms to refer to something else:

• Break the bank: Means something costs too much money, or to use all of one's money.
  
I know the car is expensive but it's not going to break the bank.
• Bring home the bacon: Means to earn a salary (which enables you to buy bacon).
  
Her husband was the one to bring home the bacon and he often kept long hours at work.
• Born with a silver spoon in your mouth: Means that you are born into a wealthy family.
  
She never had to work a day in her life since she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
• Bottom dollar/Bet my bottom dollar: Refers to one's last dollar/you're so sure of something you'd bet your last dollar on it.
  I'd bet my bottom dollar Jim will have a crazy excuse for being late again.
• Bread and butter: Means one's income.
  
His new company needs to do well because it's his bread and butter.
• Dime a dozen: Means something is easy to get or common. 

  I told her not be upset since guys like him are a dime a dozen.
• Feel like a million bucks: Means to feel wonderful.
  I recovered from my illness and feel like a million bucks now.
• Foot the bill: Means to pay for something.
  
I told my son that I would foot the bill for his college education as long as his grades are good.
• Money doesn't grow on trees: Means money is limited. 

  She told her son that he couldn't have the new game since money doesn't grow on trees.
• Money to burn: Means to have more money than you need.
  
Thanks to her rich husband she has money to burn and is always shopping at fancy boutiques.
• Money talks: Means that people who are rich can get whatever they want. 

  We can't compete against the big companies. Money always talks.
• On the house: Means something is given to a customer for free. 

  Because they made us wait so long for our table, drinks were on the house.
• Pay peanuts: Means to work for very little money. 

  The job paid peanuts but he had to accept it so he could pay the rent.
• Pay your dues: Means to earn something through hard work. 

  He put in the hours and paid his dues and was rewarded with a big promotion at work.
• Penny pincher: Means someone is conscious about money and watches what he spends.
  
He always brings his own lunch since he is the biggest penny pincher I know.
• Pick up the tab: Means to pay the bill.
  To boost morale the boss picked up the tab for everybody's lunch.
• Pour money down the drain: Means wasting money. 

  Buying all those silly toys is like pouring money down the drain.
• Strike it rich: Means to be suddenly rich. 

  She struck it rich when she won millions on the lottery.
• Time is money: Means time is valuable, so don't waste it. 

  I like to get to work early each day since time is money.
• Worth its weight in gold: Means that something is very valuable. 

  He is an asset to the company and is certainly worth his weight in gold.

These are just a selection of the many expressions you can use to talk about your finances or that use a reference to money to talk about something's value. Idioms are a quick way to get your point across in conversation and writing. Can you think of any more examples of idioms about money?

If you're interested in learning different types of idioms that abound inthe English language, check out our finger-lickin' idioms about food or some sweet love idioms.