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Money Idioms

Terms in this set (10)

an arm and a leg
-Don't buy anything in the stores in airports. They'll charge an arm and a leg.
to be very expensive or overpriced.
in the black
I finally paid off all my debts. I'm in the black again!
out of debt
in the red
I credit my stockbroker for taking me out of the red and into the black.
in debt; losing money
live within one's means
We can live within our means if we are very careful about how we spend our money.
to spend only as much money as one makes
stretched too thin/spread oneself too thin
I'll have to borrow some money to pay my bills this month. With my wife's surgery, car repairs, and our son's college tuition, I'm stretched too thin.
to have too many expenses that one cannot pay them all
take someone to the cleaners
It has been suggested that many auto mechanics will take their female customers to the cleaners because women aren't generally well-informed about their cars.
to overcharge or to cheat someone willfully out of his/her money
for a song
The lamp was slightly damaged, so the manager let me have it for a song.
for very little money
money doesn't grow on trees
Marie, I would love to buy you a new dress for the prom, but it's too expensive. You know that money doesn't grow on trees.
said to warn someone that they have to be careful how much money they spend, because there is only a limited amount
bounce a check
I wrote a check for $246, but there was only $211 in my account. If I bounce a check again, the bank is going to cancel my account.
When there are insufficient funds in an account, the bank will "bounce the check" (refuse to honor it). Banks and vendors frequently charge fees for bounced checks, sometimes exceeding the amount for which the check was written.
cough up
Mrs. Simpson, I know you lost your job, but this apartment isn't free. You are going to have to cough up the rent soon, or else leave. I'm sorry.
to give unwillingly
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