live beyond your means
To spend more money than you actually earn.
Example: Buying that car meant they were living beyond their means.
B113 words · Intermediate
Money & Success vocabulary — B1
Money and success idioms for describing finances, with phrases like in the red, a nest egg and pay through the nose for saving, debt and spending.
13 questions
Words in this set
13in the red
In debt, owing more money than you have.
Example:
The company has been in the red for two years running.
in the black
Making a profit rather than a loss; financially healthy.
Example:
After a rough start, the shop is finally in the black.
a nest egg
A sum of money saved for future use, especially retirement.
Example:
They've been building a nest egg for their retirement.
worth its weight in gold
Extremely valuable or useful.
Example:
A good mentor is worth their weight in gold.
cut your losses
To stop doing something unsuccessful before it wastes more time or money.
Example:
After months of no sales, they decided to cut their losses and close the shop.
strike it rich
To suddenly become wealthy, often unexpectedly.
Example:
The prospectors dreamed of striking it rich in the gold rush.
put your money where your mouth is
To back up what you say with real action, not just talk.
Example:
If you believe in the idea, put your money where your mouth is and invest.
on the house
Given free by a business, such as a restaurant or bar.
Example:
The waiter said dessert was on the house.
foot the bill
To pay for something, often for other people.
Example:
The company will foot the bill for the whole weekend.
pay through the nose
To pay far too much for something.
Example:
You pay through the nose for parking anywhere near the station.
a rip-off
Something that costs far more than it is worth.
Example:
Four pounds for a coffee is a rip-off and everyone pays it.
tighten the purse strings
To start spending less money.
Example:
Every department was told to tighten the purse strings in March.
