Expressions

Talking about money – Phrasal verbs & Idioms

 

 

Phrasal verbs

pay back

to return money owed to someone

pay off

to finish paying all money that is owed

save up

to keep money for a large expense (=uitgave)

 

 

 

 

Idioms we might use when talking about money:

 

Money doesn’t grow on trees

money doesn’t come easily

I’m not made of money

to not have a lot of money

Time is money

time is valuable so do not waste it

Beyond one’s means

more than one can afford

To cost an arm and a leg

to cost a lot of money

Flat broke

to have no money at all

Foot the bill

to pay for something

 

VWO

 

English expression and description

Dutch translation or equivalent

A light purse is a heavy curse: Life is difficult when you don't have much money.

Het leven is niet makkelijk als je geen geld hebt.

Cash cow: A product, business, etc., that generates a continuous flow of money or a high proportion of overall profits is a cash cow.

Een melkkoetje.

Daylight robbery: If you are overcharged or underpaid, it is a daylight robbery; open, unfair and hard to prevent. Rip-off has a similar meaning.

Dat is oplichterij!

Earn a living: To make money. Example: We need to get a good job to earn a decent living.

De kost verdienen.

Golden touch: Someone with a golden touch can make money from or be successful at anything they do.

Hij is als koning Midas (Een koning van Lydië) die van de goden een wens mocht doen. Zijn wens was, dat alles wat hij aanraakte in goud zou veranderen.

Make ends meet: If somebody finds it hard to make ends meet, they have problems living on the money they earn.

De eindjes aan elkaar kunnen knopen.

Money burns a hole in your pocket: If someone has money burning a hole in their pocket, they are eager to spend it, normally in a wasteful manner.

Je hebt een gat in je hand.

Not have two pennies (USA: nickles) to rub together: If someone hasn't got two pennies to rub together, they are very poor indeed.

Geen rooie cent hebben.

Penny pincher: A penny pincher is a mean person or who is very frugal.

een krentenkakker, vrek.

The penny dropped: When the penny drops, someone belatedly understands something that everyone else has long since understood.

Het kwartje is gevallen.