Money is an important part of life. Whether we are working, shopping, or saving for the future, we are always surrounded by trade and financial decisions.

Understanding money is a skill that helps us in many ways. From buying groceries to planning a vacation, knowing how to talk about money in English is useful.

Idioms about money can make your conversations more natural and fun. In this article, you will learn 15 common English idioms about money and finance, what they mean, and how to use them in daily life.

Idioms About Money and Finance

1. Break the bank

This idiom means something is very expensive or costs more money than you can afford.

Examples:

• I would love to buy that car, but it would break the bank.

• We decided to go to a small restaurant so we wouldn’t break the bank.

• Buying designer clothes often breaks the bank for most people.

2. Cost an arm and a leg

This means something is very expensive.

Examples:

• The new iPhone costs an arm and a leg.

• Their vacation to the Maldives must have cost an arm and a leg.

• I want to buy a house, but they all cost an arm and a leg these days.

3. Make ends meet

To make ends meet means to have just enough money to pay for what you need.

Examples:

• After losing his job, he struggled to make ends meet.

• We work two jobs to make ends meet every month.

• It’s hard to make ends meet when the prices keep going up.

4. Bring home the bacon

This idiom means to earn money to support your family.

Examples:

• She works hard to bring home the bacon for her kids.

• In many families, both parents bring home the bacon.

• He got a new job to bring home the bacon after losing his previous one.

5. Save for a rainy day

This means to put money aside for emergencies or unexpected situations.

Examples:

• It’s important to save for a rainy day in case something goes wrong.

• She doesn’t spend all her salary; she saves for a rainy day.

• We used the money we saved for a rainy day when our car broke down.

6. Money doesn’t grow on trees

This idiom reminds people that money is not easy to get, so we should not waste it.

Examples:

• Stop buying things you don’t need. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

• My dad always told me that money doesn’t grow on trees when I asked for toys.

• You can’t expect me to pay for everything. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

7. Pay through the nose

To pay through the nose means to pay much more than something is worth.

Examples:

• They had to pay through the nose for a ticket to the concert.

• I don’t want to pay through the nose for a hotel room during the holidays.

• He paid through the nose for that vintage car, but he says it was worth it.

8. In the red

This means being in debt or owing money.

Examples:

• After buying a house, they were in the red for several years.

• The company is in the red and needs to cut expenses.

• If you keep spending like this, you’ll end up in the red.

9. In the black

This is the opposite of being in the red. It means having money or making a profit.

Examples:

• Our business is finally in the black after three years.

• She’s good at saving and always stays in the black.

• They had a successful year and ended in the black.

10. Money talks

This means money has power and influence.

Examples:

• He got the best table at the restaurant because money talks.

• The politician received support because money talks in elections.

• They built a huge stadium in the city because money talks.

11. Throw money down the drain

This means wasting money on something useless.

Examples:

• Buying expensive gadgets that you don’t use is like throwing money down the drain.

• He felt like he threw money down the drain when the expensive watch broke after a week.

• She advised her friend not to throw money down the drain by overdecorating the house.

12. Live beyond your means

This means spending more money than you can afford.

Examples:

• Many people live beyond their means by using credit cards for unnecessary purchases.

• He realized he was living beyond his means when he couldn’t pay his bills.

• It’s better to live within your means to avoid debt.

13. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth

This idiom means being born into a wealthy family.

Examples:

• She doesn’t worry about money because she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

• Many people assume that celebrities were born with silver spoons in their mouths.

• He had access to the best education because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

14. Easy money

This means money earned without much effort.

Examples:

• He thought gambling would be easy money, but he lost more than he won.

• The bonus from work felt like easy money because he didn’t expect it.

• Selling old furniture online can sometimes bring easy money.

15. Time is money

This idiom means time is valuable, just like money, and it shouldn’t be wasted.

Examples:

• She reminded her team that time is money and encouraged them to finish the project on time.

• I can’t spend all day waiting in line because time is money.

• Businesses often use the phrase time is money to emphasize productivity.

Practice Idioms and Improve Your English with ELSA

Understanding these idioms can make your English more colorful and fun. Using them in conversations about money and finance will help you sound more fluent and natural.

If you want to practice these idioms and improve your English pronunciation, try our ELSA app.

ELSA uses advanced AI technology to help you perfect your pronunciation and expand your vocabulary. With ELSA, you can practice speaking these idioms and many more phrases, gaining confidence and sounding more natural.

Whether you’re preparing for conversations, presentations, or exams, ELSA provides personalized feedback and interactive lessons to support your progress.

Download the ELSA app today and take the first step toward mastering English idioms and improving your communication skills!

Keep learning about idioms here