MoneyVocabulary.doc

Money Vocabulary

The Major Currencies
$
€
£
¥

Dollar
Euro
Pound
Yen
Ways of paying

cash
cheque(s)
credit

General Money Vocabulary

bank(s)
cash box(es)
cash machine(s) / ATM(s)

cheque book(s)
coin(s)
note(s)

piggy bank(s)
poor
purse(s)

rich
safe(s)
till(s)

wallet(s)

Build Up A - Z of money terms
account
n. a record of money a person deposits into a bank
balance
n. the difference between credits and debits in an account
bank
n. a building in which commercial banking is transacted.
bank charges
n. money paid to a bank for the bank's services etc
banker's draft
n. a cheque drawn on the bank (or building society) itself against either a cash deposit or funds taken directly from your own bank account.
barter
v. to trade without using money.
borrow
v. to ask for the temporary use of money on the condition of repayment and at a set rate of interest.
branch
n. local office or bureau of a bank
building society

n. A building society is like a bank, but it is owned by its members - savers and borrowers - and not by shareholders. Its traditional purpose was to lend money to individuals to purchase or remortgage their homes. This money used to come exclusively from individual saving members who are paid interest on their deposits. Now, an increasing proportion, but still a minority of the funds are raised on the commercial money markets.
cashflow
n. cash earnings minus cash outflows for fixed- and working-capital investment.
cashier
n. an employee of a bank or building society who receives and pays out money.
chequebook
n. book containing detachable cheques
cheque
n. written order to a bank to pay the stated sum from one's account
counterfeit
n. fake money made in order to deceive - also v.
credit
n. money in a bank a/c; sum added to a bank a/c; money lent by a bank - also v.
credit card
n. (plastic) card from a bank authorising the purchasing of goods on credit
currency
n. money that is used by a country such as the United Kingdom.
current account
n. bank a/c from which money may be drawn at any time; checking account US
debit
n. a sum deducted from a bank account, as for a cheque - also v.
debit card
n. you use a debit card in much the same way as a credit card but instead of receiving credit after making your purchase, the funds are automatically (within a few days usually) withdrawn from your bank account.
debt
n. the state of owing something (especially money).
denomination
n. a number that expresses the value of a coin or bill.  A five pound note and a ten pound note represent two denominations.
deposit
n. an amount of money placed with a bank
deposit account
n. bank a/c on which interest is paid; savings account US.
fill in
v. to add written information to a document to make it complete.
interest
n. money paid for borrowing money, or money that a bank or building society pays a customer for putting money into their bank. 
interest rate
n. the percentage of an amount of money which is paid for the use of that money over a period of time.
lend
v. to give the temporary use of money on the condition of repayment and at a set rate of interest.
loan
n. money lent by a bank etc and that must be repaid with interest - also v.
mortgage
n. most of us do not buy our homes outright for cash - instead we borrow money to do so.
overdraft
n. deficit in a bank account caused by withdrawing more money than is paid in
pay in
v. to deposit or put money in to a bank account
payee
n. person to whom money is paid
paying-in slip
n. small document recording money that you pay in to a bank account
pence
n. more than one penny.
standing order
n. an instruction to a bank to make regular payments
statement
n. a record of transactions in a bank account
withdraw
v. to take money out of a bank account
withdrawal
n. the act of taking out money.

Naturally Speaking
Rich man / Poor man
There are lots of ways to describe how rich or poor someone is. Here are a few - from very rich to very poor.

filthy rich

stinking rich

rolling in it

wealthy

rich

prosperous

affluent

well off

hard-up

needy

skint

brassic

penniless

broke

poor

impoverished

poverty-stricken

destitute

Do you like to share your money, or do you keep it all to yourself?
If you gladly share your money you are:-
charitable - generous - sharing - unselfish
If you keep all your money you may be considered:-
mean - miserly - selfish - stingy - tight - uncharitable - ungenerous

Dialogue
Here is a conversation between Mrs Smith (Joan) and the cashier at her new bank.
It's Saturday morning and Joan's gone to the bank.
Joan
I'd like to open a bank account, please.
Cashier
Certainly. Do you have some form of identification?
Joan
Yes, I bought my passport. Is that OK.
Cashier
Yes. We also need proof of your current address. Do you have a utility bill or your driver's licence with you?
Joan
I've got my driver's licence.
Cashier
What kind of account did you want?
Joan
Well I want a deposit account and a savings account.
Cashier
That's fine, we do both. Do you have any proof of income?
Joan
Yes, I bought my pay slips for the last three months.
Cashier
Good. You could also apply for a credit card at the same time, if you like.
Joan
Yes, that would be great.
Cashier
OK. If you would just like to fill out these forms...

Idioms and Sayings About Money
Idiom/Saying Explanation
A hole in the wall
For example:

1) "We went for a drink at a little hole in the wall near the university last night."

2) "I went to the hole in the wall to get some cash."
1) A small place to live, stay or work in.

2) A cash machine.
Break the bank.
For example:
He broke the bank at the casino and walked away with a lot of money.
Win all the money at a casino gambling table.
To laugh all the way to the bank.
For example:-
If we don't take this opportunity, you can be sure our competitors will and they'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
To make lot of money very easily, often because someone else has been stupid.

To not break the bank.
For example:
Going out for a drink in the pub won't break the bank.
Not be too expensive
To bank on something/someone
For example:

"You can always bank on friends to help you."
Something or someone you can be sure of.
Gor for broke.
For example:
"She really wanted to pass her English exam, so she went for broke and revised every day."
To risk everything in order to achieve the result you want.
To be broke
For example:
I can't go out tonight, I'm broke.
To have no money.
A cash cow

For example:
The British newspapers are the group's biggest cash cow, earning nearly 40% of group profits.
A business or a part of a business that always makes a lot of profit.
Hard cash
For example:
They don't accept credit cards, we will need hard cash.
Money in the form of coins or notes paper money
Cash in your chips
For example:
He cashed his chips in shortly after his ninetieth birthday.
To die.
Ready cash
For example:
We have a lot of investments but we need ready cash to pay the bills.
Money that is available to spend.
A blank cheque
For example:
The project manager seems to think he has a blank cheque.
As much money to spend as is wanted or needed.
The other side of the coin
For example:
Running a web site is fun, but the other side of the coin is that it costs a lot of money.
The opposite view of something.
A bad debt
For example:
The bank expects to lose millions of last year's profits as a result of bad debts.
Money owed that is not likely to be paid.
e-cash
For example:
It is easier to pay on the net with e-cash.
Money from a special bank account which is used to buy goods and services over the Internet by sending information from your computer
A fool and his money are soon parted.
For example:
Andrew is always buying the latest gizmos, a fool and his money are soon parted.
Something we say which means that stupid people spend money without thinking about it enough.
Blood money
For example:
The assassin was paid his blood money.
Money that has been gained from the death of another person.
Easy money
For example:
A lot of people think running a web site is easy money.
Money earnt with very little work or effort.
Funny money
For example:

She was caught trying to pay with funny money,
Counterfeit money, or money from dishonest activities.
A licence to print money
For example:
Some people think the TV licence fee is just a licence to print money.
Activity that allows people to become very rich without having to make any effort.
Money doesn't grow on trees.
For example:
We can't afford to buy a house, money doesn't grow on trees.
Money isn't that easy to come by.
Money for old rope
For example:
A lot of people think being a professional footballer is money for for old rope.
A job that is an easy way of earning money.
Money talks
For example:
He seems to get away with murder I guess money talks.
People who are rich have a lot of power and influence.
Money to burn
For example:
They buy a new car every year. They must have money to burn.
To have a lot of money to spend on things that are not necessary
Put your money where your mouth is
For example:
If people are really interested in helping the homeless they should put their money where their mouth is
To follow up on words with action.
Monopoly money
For example:
Whether he sells the house or not, it's all monopoly money to him.
Monopoly is the trademark for a game in which you buy property with pretend money, so monopoly money has little or no value.
Pin money
For example:
She teaches English for pin money for extra treats for herself and the family.
A small amount of money that you earn and spend on things for yourself.
Pots of money
For example:
Bill Gates has pots of money.
A lot of money.
Throw money around
For example:
They don't work but they have plenty of money to throw around.
To spend money, especially in an obvious and careless way, on things that are not necessary.
Hit pay dirt
For example:
If a salesperson does not quickly hit pay dirt with a customer they will usually move straight on to someone else.
To discover something very valuable or very useful.
Pay through the nose
For example:
I paid through the nose to get the bathroom done.
To pay too much money for something.
Pay top dollar
For example:
If you want the best, you have to pay to dollar.
To pay a lot of money for something
Pay your way
For example:
I teach English so that I can pay my way.
To pay for yourself rather than allowing someone else to pay
The devil to pay
For example:
If the company catches you making personal calls there'll be the devil to pay!
To get into a lot of trouble.
A penny for your thoughts
For example:
'You're very quiet. A penny for your thoughts.'
To ask someone what they are thinking about.
A pretty penny
For example:
That car must have cost you a pretty penny.
To be very expensive
The penny drops
For example:
She looked confused for a while, but then the penny dropped.
To finally understand something.
Turn up like a bad penny
For example:
Whenever he wants money he turns up like a bad penny.
To arrive at a place or event where you are not wanted.
In for a penny, in for a pound
For example:
He spends hours on his English every day. In for a penny, in for a pound.
To put a lot of money or effort into something.
Dirt poor

Most of the population in this undeveloped area were dirt-poor and jobless.
Extremely poor
As poor as church mice
For example:
When we first got married, we were as poor as church mice.
Very poor
The pink pound
For example:
Brighton is a lively, prosperous city, courtesy of the pink pound.
Money spent by people who are homosexual, especially on entertainment.
To hold the purse strings
For example:
The Financial Director holds the purse strings here.
To control the spending of a family's or an organization's money
To loosen the purse strings
For example:
We shouldn't expect the Chancellor to loosen the purse strings too much in this year's Budget.
To allow more money to be spent.
To tighten the purse strings
For example:
If we want to go on holiday this year we need to tighten the purse strings a bit.
To reduce the amount of money that can be spent
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
For example:
I new it wouldn't last, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
If something is poor quality you can't do much to improve it.
Filthy rich
For example:
Bill Gates is filthy rich.
Extremely rich
Rob Peter to pay Paul
For example:
If you keep robbing Peter to pay Paul, you'll never be out of debt.
To borrow money from one person to pay back money you borrowed from someone else.
Strike it rich
For example:
He struck it rich in the computer business.
To suddenly become rich
Spend money like water
For example:
If you spend money like water, you'll always be broke.
To spend too much.
Spend a penny
For example:
Excuse me, I must go and spend a penny.
To go to the toilet.
Have your fingers in the till
For example:
She had her fingers in the till, that's why she lost her job.
To steal money from the place where you work.

Verbs and Phrasal Verbs About Money
Verbs
The Verb (infinitive form)
The Meaning
An example
( Simple Past Tense)
Regular
/Irregular
To borrow
To get or receive something from someone (often money) with the intention of giving it back after a period of time.
I borrowed your bike last week?
Regular
To buy
To obtain something by paying money for it.
I bought a lot of wine for the party.

To earn
To receive money as payment for work that you do.
He earnt a decent wage before he retired.

To lend
To give something to someone for a short period of time, expecting it to be given back.
She lent me her book.

To pay
To give money to someone for something you want to buy or for services provided.
I wasn't paid enough.

To save
To keep something, especially money, for use in the future.
I saved for my pension.

To spend
To give money as a payment for something:
I spent all my savings on this web site.

Phrasal Verbs （ S=Separable I=Inseparable ）
To buy sb off
To pay someone so that they do not cause you any trouble. The company thought they had bought him off but he took them to court and won. S
To buy sb out
To buy a part of a company or building from someone else so that you own all of it.
They bought their competitor's share in the target company. S