Idioms about Money

Idioms about Money: 10 Useful Expressions You Should Know

Idioms about money

Money may not buy happiness, but it certainly creates a lot of useful expressions in English. Whether you’re talking about saving, spending, financial struggles, or unexpected wealth, idioms help you sound more natural and fluent. They add colour to your language and make your speech feel more authentically British. In this lesson, we’ll explore ten common idioms about money, what they mean, and how you can use them in everyday situations. You’ll also find extra examples, cultural notes, and short explanations to help you remember them easily.

Let’s dive in!

Earn a fortune

Meaning: To earn a very large amount of money.

This idiom is often used when someone becomes wealthy through business, investments, or a highly paid job.

• He made a fortune on the stock market during the economic boom.
• My cousin earns a fortune in Dubai — his salary is three times higher than it was back home.
• If this app becomes popular, the creators will earn a fortune.

You can also say make a fortune or be worth a fortune. All three are very common in British English.

Tighten your belt

Meaning: To spend less money than before because you have less available.

This idiom is often used during economic difficulties, salary cuts, or unexpected expenses.

• We’ve had to tighten our belts since my wife lost her job.
• With the rise in food prices, many families are tightening their belts.
• After paying for the new boiler, we’ll need to tighten our belts for a few months.

Newspapers often use this expression when talking about national economic crises. 

Chicken feed

Meaning: A very small amount of money — so small that it’s almost not worth considering.

• It’s a nice job, but the salary is chicken feed.
• Compared to what lawyers earn, my wages are chicken feed.
• He sold his old car for chicken feed just to get rid of it.

This expression is slightly informal and often used with a humorous or ironic tone.

Feel the pinch

Meaning: To experience financial difficulty because you have less money coming in.

• When his parents lost their jobs, they began to feel the pinch.
• Many small businesses are starting to feel the pinch from rising energy costs.
• After Christmas, most people feel the pinch until payday.

This idiom suggests that the “pressure” of money problems is actually painful — like being pinched.

Hard up

Meaning: Not having enough money.

This is a very common informal British expression.

• I’m hard up these days — my rent has gone up again.
• She’s a bit hard up at the moment, so she’s taking extra shifts.
• During university, I was always hard up and living on instant noodles.

You can also say short of money or strapped for cash. 

Keep the wolf from the door

Meaning: To earn just enough money to cover basic needs such as food and bills.

• He works two jobs to keep the wolf from the door.
• My pension isn’t huge, but it’s enough to keep the wolf from the door.
• Freelancers often take small projects just to keep the wolf from the door.

The “wolf” symbolises hunger or poverty — a threat at your door.

Have deep pockets

Meaning: To have a lot of money or financial resources.

Often used to describe wealthy companies, investors, or individuals.

• This company has deep pockets and can afford expensive research.
• The charity is supported by donors with very deep pockets.
• You need deep pockets to live in central London these days.

It is frequently used in business or news reports.

Get your fingers burned

Meaning: To suffer a financial loss because you took a risk — often in business or investments.

• He got his fingers burned in foreign markets during the recession.
• Many investors got their fingers burned when the company collapsed.
• I tried cryptocurrency trading but got my fingers burned and stopped.

Imagine touching something hot — you learn your lesson quickly!

Cost an arm and a leg

Meaning: To be extremely expensive.

• The fur coat cost her an arm and a leg.
• These days, even a simple trip to the dentist can cost an arm and a leg.
• The repairs cost us an arm and a leg, but at least the car works again. 

Similar expressions:

• It costs a small fortune.
• It costs a bomb. (informal, British)

Break the bank

Meaning: To be so expensive that it uses up all your money; to cost more than you can reasonably afford.

This idiom is perfect for everyday conversations about prices, spending, holidays, or big purchases.

• We’d love a holiday in Italy, but we don’t want to break the bank.
• Upgrading your phone doesn’t have to break the bank if you choose a basic model.
• They organised a lovely wedding without breaking the bank.

Useful note:

This idiom is often used in the negative — “It won’t break the bank” — to reassure someone that something is reasonably priced.

How to use money idioms naturally

Here are a few tips to help learners use these idioms confidently:

• Match tone to the situation – some idioms are informal (hard up, chicken feed, cost an arm and a leg) while others suit business English (earn a fortune, have deep pockets).

• Use them to sound more fluent – idioms make your speech more colourful and help you understand native speakers better — especially in films, newspapers, and conversations.

• Try adding them to personal examples – students remember idioms best when they connect them to their own lives.

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