Free English Lesson: 4 Everyday Money Idioms!

The English language is full of interesting idioms that take their inspiration from all sorts of things! Money is an important part of life, but can these money idioms be used to describe other situations too? Read on to find out!

1. Blank cheque

This is used to describe giving someone a limitless amount of resources to do something. While it can be used to describe money, it can also be used for other items as well.

E.g. “Her parents gave her a blank cheque to do whatever she wanted for her wedding.”

2. Have a penny for every time… 

This idiom is used to describe when something happens very often to you. It is often used to emphasise how common it is.

E.g. “If I had a penny every time I saw that poster, I’d be a millionaire by now!”

3. Cut your losses 

This means to get out of a bad situation, before it gets any worse and causes you more difficulty.

E.g. “I decided to cut my losses and forget about the broken furniture.”

4. Mint condition 

You can use this idiom to describe doing something that is in excellent condition. It is usually used to describe something old, that looks as good as new.

E.g. “The vintage car he got for the party was in absolutely mint condition!”

Quick Practice

Which idioms would you use in the following events?

1. You are looking to buy a rare, collectable toy.
2. People keep asking you to spell your name wherever you go.
3. Your friends are having a birthday party, and plan to make it very extravagant and special.
4. The hotel room you booked turns out to be a disaster.

Your turn

The best way to improve your understanding of English is to keep practicing whenever you can. Try and write a conversation between a group, using each of the lesson’s idioms, at least once for each person. Remember to think about how they can be used, and what they mean!

Common ‘Money’ Phrasal Verbs

Using phrasal verbs in English is just one of the many ways you can add a little colour to the things you say. While they might seem a little complicated, they’re actually very easy to use! They’re often used when it comes to talking about different things about money in particular.

So are you ready to add a few to your vocabulary? Read on and take a look!

1. Rip off

This is used to describe when someone is charging an extremely high amount of money for something, and more than what it is probably worth.

E.g. “The market seller was trying to rip you off with those bags – they’re not even worth £20!”

2. Lend out

This phrasal verb is used when giving something to someone, with the intention that it is only for a certain period, and not forever! You would expect someone to return something that you lend out to them.

E.g. “I’ll lend you the money for a new bike so you don’t have to wait to buy it.”

3. Splash out

You use this phrasal verb to describe spending excessively on something, as a treat for yourself or others, and it will probably be something you do not normally have or buy.

E.g. “For our last night on holiday, we splashed out on a really fancy dinner in a posh restaurant.”

4. Get by

You can see this as the opposite of splashing out – this verb means to have just enough money to survive on the basics, without any extra left over.

E.g. “My student loan was delayed but I could just about get by with the tips from my job.”

Quick Practice

Which phrasal verb would you use in the following events?

1. Your friend wants to buy a new coat but hasn’t got her bank card with her.
2. Your parents treat you to a special lunch.
3. You have very little money to spend on holiday.
4. A shop is charging three times the price for a DVD compared to all other shops.

Your turn

To help you learn and understand phrasal verbs, the best way to practice is by using them in conversation! So why not put together a little chat between a group of friends? Try and use each phrase at least once.