a windfall
A large, unexpected amount of money that suddenly comes your way.
Example: The inheritance was a windfall none of them had expected.
C222 words · Proficient
Money & Success vocabulary — C2
Money and success idioms for advanced discussion of finance, with phrases like daylight robbery, diminishing returns and rags to riches.
22 questions
Words in this set
22riding high
Currently enjoying great success and confidence.
Example:
The team is riding high after five wins in a row.
come up trumps
To succeed unexpectedly, especially exactly when it is needed most.
Example:
The backup generator came up trumps during the storm.
diminishing returns
A point at which extra effort or spending starts to bring smaller and smaller benefit.
Example:
After the third round of advertising, the campaign hit diminishing returns.
in dire straits
In an extremely difficult and serious situation, especially financially.
Example:
Without new investors, the company would be in dire straits.
rags to riches
A dramatic rise from poverty to great wealth and success.
Example:
Her rags to riches story inspired millions of readers.
daylight robbery
A price or charge that is unfairly and shockingly high.
Example:
Ten dollars for a bottle of water is daylight robbery.
burn through money
To spend a large amount of cash very quickly, often carelessly.
Example:
The startup burned through money in its first year.
feast or famine
Alternating between having far too much and having far too little, especially of work or income.
Example:
Freelance work is feast or famine — busy one month, empty the next.
a golden handshake
A large sum of money given to a senior employee when they leave a company.
Example:
The retiring CEO received a golden handshake worth millions.
a king's ransom
An enormous amount of money.
Example:
The rights were sold for a king's ransom and nothing was made.
money for jam
Money earned very easily.
Example:
Two hours of filing at that rate is money for jam.
a golden goose
Something that reliably produces a great deal of money.
Example:
They sold a golden goose to cover one bad quarter.
the Midas touch
The ability to make money out of anything.
Example:
For about five years he had the Midas touch.
not worth the paper it is written on
Completely worthless as a promise or agreement.
Example:
That guarantee is not worth the paper it is written on.
spend money like water
To spend a great deal very carelessly.
Example:
They spend money like water and complain about the audit.
a fool and his money are soon parted
Careless people quickly lose what they have.
Example:
He bought it sight unseen, and a fool and his money are soon parted.
sell the family silver
To sell valuable long-term assets for short-term cash.
Example:
Closing the workshop was selling sell the family silver.
a house of cards
A structure or plan that will collapse at the smallest push.
Example:
The whole financing was a house of cards by the second year.
on the never-never
Bought with credit paid off over a long period.
Example:
Half that street furnished itself on the never-never.
a sprat to catch a mackerel
A small outlay made in the hope of a much larger return.
Example:
The free trial is a sprat to catch a mackerel.
feather your own nest
To make yourself rich, especially dishonestly.
Example:
He was there ten years and did nothing but feather your own nest.
