IDIOMS – MONEY!

beyond one's means

- more than one can afford

The young man was living beyond his means before he got his first job. 

bottom line

- the line in a financial statement that shows net income or loss

The bottom line in the company's financial statement was much worse than
expected.

cash in on (something)

- to make money from an opportunity

The former basketball player cashed in on his popularity to open a very successful
restaurant.

cheapskate

- a person who will not spend much money, a stingy person

My friend is a cheapskate and will not go to a movie with me.

chicken feed

- a small amount of money

The amount of money that I paid for the used car was chicken feed.

chip in (money)

- to contribute money for something, to pay jointly for something

Everybody in our office chipped in some money to buy a wedding present for our
boss. 
clean up

- to make a lot of money, to make a big profit

I cleaned up at the horse races last year and I still have some of the money left. 

cut-rate

- a price that is lower than usual

We went to a cut-rate furniture store to buy some new furniture for our apartment.

deadbeat

- a person who never pays the money that he or she owes

Recently, the government is trying to solve the problem of deadbeat fathers who do
not support their families.

dirt cheap

- extremely cheap

The land was dirt cheap when we bought it. 

dollar for dollar

- considering the cost

Dollar for dollar the new hotel is the best bargain in this city for tourists. 

down-and-out

- having no money

My friend was down-and-out for many years before he got a job.

easy money

- money that you do not need to work hard to get

I was able to make some easy money from my job during the summer. 
from rags to riches

- from poverty to wealth

The man went from rags to riches with his hard work. 

get one's money's worth

- to get everything (or even a little more) that one has paid for

We got our money's worth when we were able to spend the day at the water park. 

go broke

- to lose all of one`s money, to become bankrupt

My uncle started a company last year but it quickly went broke. 

go Dutch

- to share in the cost of a meal or some other event

We decided to go Dutch when we went to the restaurant for dinner. 

have the Midas touch

- to have the ability to make money easily (King Midas turned everything that he
touched into gold)

My uncle has the Midas touch and every business that he starts makes a lot of
money. 

highway robbery

- the charging of a high price for something

The amount of money that the company is charging for its services is highway
robbery.

hit the jackpot

- to make a lot of money suddenly (usually from gambling)

We hit the jackpot at the casino and came home with much money. 

live within one's means

- to spend no more money than one has

I try very hard to live within my means so that I do not have any financial
pressure. 

loaded

- to have lots of money

My uncle is loaded and has lots of money. 

look like a million dollars

- to look very good

The woman looked like a million dollars when she went to accept the award. 

on a shoestring

- with little money to spend, on a very low budget

My cousin started his business on a shoestring but now it is very successful.

on credit

- using credit to buy something

I bought the new stereo on credit. 

pay an arm and a leg for (something)

- to pay a high price for something

I paid an arm and a leg for my car but I am not very happy with it.
pay as you go

- to pay for things as they occur (rather than on credit)

I will have to pay as I go if I go to graduate school next year. 

pay in advance

- to pay for something before you get or use it

I must pay in advance for the bus company to deliver my boxes. 

pay off (something) or pay (something) off

- to pay the total amount of something

I paid off my student loan after one year of work.

pay one's own way

- to pay the costs for something yourself

The young girl paid her own way through college. 

penny pincher

- a person who is very careful with his or her money - even very small amounts like
a single penny

The man is a penny pincher and will never spend any money. 

pour money down the drain

- to waste money

The man is pouring money down the drain by always repairing his old car. 

strike it rich

- to suddenly become rich or successful

My grandfather struck it rich when he was young but when he died he had no
money. 

take the money and run

- to accept what is offered to you before the offer is gone

I plan to take the money and run as I do not believe that I will get any more money
for the settlement of my car accident. 

Tight-fisted (with money)

- to be very stingy with money

The man is tight-fisted with money and will not spend it.