Imagine this: you’re at a cafe, sipping your favorite latte, and suddenly, you overhear a conversation about money. People around you are using phrases that you don’t quite understand. Perhaps you’re learning English and you know all the vocabulary about money, but when it comes to how words work together, it gets a bit tricky. Can you truly join in and speak confidently about financial matters? I bet you can! And here’s how you’ll do it!
Get ready to dive into a pool of 37 commonly used English collocations related to the topic of money:
1. Earn a living: To make money for basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.
Example: He earns a living as a freelance writer.
2. Pay in cash: To use physical currency to settle a transaction.
Example: I prefer to pay in cash when I go shopping.
3. Save for a rainy day: To keep money aside for future needs or emergencies.
Example: I always try to save some of my earnings for a rainy day.
4. Break the bank: To cost too much or more than one can afford.
Example: Buying a new car would break the bank for me right now.
5. Make ends meet: To have just enough money to cover one’s expenses.
Example: Many people struggle to make ends meet in the current economic climate.
6. Foot the bill: To take responsibility for paying the cost of something.
Example: My boss offered to foot the bill for our team lunch.
7. Pinch pennies: To be careful with one’s money; to spend as little as possible.
Example: We’ve been pinching pennies to save for our vacation.
8. Dip into savings: To take money out of your savings account.
Example: We had to dip into our savings to pay for the car repairs.
9. Cost an arm and a leg: To be very expensive.
Example: The designer dress she bought must have cost an arm and a leg.
10. Worth its weight in gold: To be extremely valuable or worth a great deal of money.
Example: Good friends are worth their weight in gold.
11. Pay through the nose: To pay a lot of money for something.
Example: I paid through the nose for that concert ticket.
12. Cut corners: To save money by finding cheaper alternatives.
Example: We’re cutting corners by making our own coffee instead of buying it.
13. Rake in money: To earn a lot of money.
Example: Her business is raking in money.
14. Throw money around: To spend money carelessly or extravagantly.
Example: He loves to throw money around at expensive restaurants.
15. Live from hand to mouth: To have just enough money to survive and nothing extra.
Example: After losing his job, he lived from hand to mouth.
16. Put aside money: To save money for a specific purpose.
Example: I put aside money every month for my retirement.
17. Fall into debt: To owe money.
Example: After losing her job, she fell into debt.
18. Splash out on: To spend a lot of money on something enjoyable.
Example: I decided to splash out on a new phone.
19. Tighten your belt: To spend less money because there is less available.
Example: We’ve had to tighten our belts since my wife lost her job.
20. Balance the books: To ensure that income equals expenditure.
Example: The accountant balances the books at the end of each month.
21. Have deep pockets: To have a lot of money.
Example: Their parents have deep pockets and can afford to send them to private school.
22. Bring home the bacon: To earn the money that a family lives on.
Example: My mother was the one who always brought home the bacon.
23. A drop in the bucket: A very small part of something big or whole.
Example: The money we saved is just a drop in the bucket compared to what we need.
24. Money doesn’t grow on trees: Used to say that money is a limited resource and it’s not easy to get.
Example: I have to work hard for my money, it doesn’t grow on trees.
25. Flat broke: To have no money at all.
Example: After paying my rent and bills, I was flat broke.
26. On a shoestring: With a very small amount of money.
Example: They managed to start their own business on a shoestring.
27. Pick up the tab: To pay the bill.
Example: Don’t worry about it, I’ll pick up the tab this time.
28. Get your money’s worth: To get good value for the amount you paid.
Example: This coat was expensive, but I certainly got my money’s worth.
29. Rolling in money: Having a lot of money.
Example: He inherited a fortune from his uncle and now he’s rolling in money.
30. In the black: Not owing any money.
Example: After years of being in debt, it feels good to be in the black.
31. In the red: Owing money, in debt.
Example: The company has been in the red since the economic crisis hit.
32. Penny for your thoughts: A way of asking what someone is thinking.
Example: You’ve been quiet all evening – a penny for your thoughts?
33. Penny pincher: A person who is unwilling to spend money.
Example: He’s such a penny pincher, he won’t even buy a new pair of shoes.
34. Pile up debts: To accumulate a large amount of debts.
Example: If you keep using your credit card for unnecessary things, you’ll pile up debts.
35. Turn a profit: To earn more money than it cost to run or produce something.
Example: It took three years for the business to turn a profit.
36. Go bust: If a company goes bust, it is forced to close because it is financially unsuccessful.
Example: The company went bust after the founder made some risky investments.
37. Cash in on something: To make money from a situation.
Example: He cashed in on the booming real estate market and sold his house.
Understanding these collocations related to money and using them correctly can really make a difference in your English fluency. So, next time you hear a conversation about money, why not join in? And remember, practice makes perfect!
