Practice
Money idioms in English: meanings and careful everyday use
Sign in to saveA friend says, "The train tickets did not break the bank." Nobody broke anything. The friend means that the tickets were affordable. Money idioms use familiar words in a figurative way, so the whole phrase matters more than the separate words.
Understand six common money idioms from context and choose a plain alternative when a figurative phrase may confuse the reader.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
break the bank /breɪk ðə bæŋk/
The short answer
A money idiom is a fixed figurative phrase about money. Learn its usual meaning as one unit. For example, break the bank means cost more than someone can reasonably afford, not damage a bank.
A picnic in the park will not break the bank.
Why it works: The speaker means that the picnic should be inexpensive.
6 more examples
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The guesthouse was comfortable and did not break the bank.
The stay was affordable for the speaker's budget.
Not this:The guesthouse was comfortable and
cost less than we expected. What changes: This plain wording gives the same general idea without relying on an idiom. -
They started the community garden on a shoestring.
They began the project with very little money.
Not this:They started the community garden
with a very small budget. What changes: The direct phrase explains the budget clearly. -
In some campaigns, money talks more loudly than good ideas.
The speaker means that financial power can have strong influence.
Not this:In some campaigns,
wealthy donors have strong influence. What changes: This version names the influence directly. -
We paid through the nose for a taxi during the storm.
The taxi cost much more than the speakers thought was reasonable.
Not this:We paid
an unusually high farefor a taxi during the storm. What changes: The literal wording is clearer in a complaint or expense report. -
After a few years of work, Noor had a small nest egg for emergencies.
A nest egg is savings kept for a future purpose or an unexpected need.
Not this:After a few years of work, Noor had
some savingsfor emergencies. What changes: Savings is the direct term for money kept aside. -
My father reminded me that money does not grow on trees when I wanted a new phone.
The reminder means that money is limited and cannot be obtained without effort.
Not this:My father reminded me that we need to
plan our spendingbefore buying a new phone. What changes: The direct version explains the practical advice.
Read the full guide
Read the situation before you decide what an idiom means. A phrase about a holiday, a budget, or a bill usually points to cost or spending. Once you know the meaning, decide whether the idiom suits the audience. A plain sentence is often better in instructions, formal reports, and messages to people who may not share the expression.
Read the whole phrase
Idioms do not always make sense word by word. If someone says a concert did not break the bank, the sentence is about price, not a building. Look at the topic around the phrase. A ticket, bill, holiday, or purchase can help you identify a money meaning.
The repair was urgent, but it did not break the bank.
The repair did not break the bank means it was affordable. The repair broke the window describes physical damage and is a different sentence.
Talk about a small budget
On a shoestring describes doing something with a very limited budget. It often appears with projects, trips, or new businesses. The phrase does not mean that there is no money at all. It means that the available amount is small, so people must make careful choices.
The students organised the exhibition on a shoestring, using donated materials.
Which phrase is clearer in a funding request: on a shoestring or with a budget of 500 pounds?
With a budget of 500 pounds is clearer because it gives the reader a usable figure. On a shoestring works better in a conversation or an informal description.
Describe cost without giving a number
Break the bank and pay through the nose both concern cost, but their direction differs. If something does not break the bank, it is manageable for the speaker's budget. If someone pays through the nose, they think the price is excessive. Neither phrase gives an exact price.
The museum entry was cheap, but we paid through the nose for lunch nearby.
It did not break the bank means the cost was manageable. We paid through the nose means the cost felt far too high.
Recognise influence and savings
Money talks says that wealth can influence decisions or access. It can sound critical, especially when the speaker thinks money has received more attention than fairness or ability. A nest egg is more personal. It means savings kept for a future plan, retirement, or an emergency.
Leila adds a little to her nest egg each month after paying her bills.
Money talks comments on financial influence. A nest egg names money that someone has saved.
Use money does not grow on trees with care
Adults often say money does not grow on trees when they want a child or friend to understand that money has limits. It can sound humorous in a familiar relationship. In a tense conversation about bills or debt, a direct and respectful sentence is kinder: We cannot afford that this month.
Before we book the holiday, we need to check what we can afford this month.
Choose a phrase for the audience
A familiar idiom can add tone to a chat, story, or relaxed meeting. Use direct wording when the reader needs exact information or may be learning English. If you keep the idiom, a nearby detail can make the meaning easier to infer.
You are writing an expense report. Which sentence helps most: We paid through the nose, or The taxi fare was 48 pounds because buses had stopped?
The taxi fare was 48 pounds because buses had stopped is better for an expense report. It gives the amount and the reason, which a reader can check.
Before you go
Remember this
Learn a money idiom as a complete phrase. Break the bank means be unaffordable, on a shoestring means with little money, and a nest egg means savings for later. Use context to understand the phrase, then choose plain wording when clarity matters most.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Money idioms in English: meanings and careful everyday use"
What does break the bank mean?
Break the bank means cost more than someone can comfortably afford. The guesthouse was comfortable and did not break the bank means that the stay was affordable for the speaker.
The guesthouse was comfortable and did not break the bank.
What does on a shoestring mean?
On a shoestring means with a very small budget. They started the community garden on a shoestring says that the project began with little money available.
The guesthouse was comfortable and cost less than we expected.
What does money talks mean?
Money talks means that wealth or financial power can influence a result. In some campaigns, money talks more loudly than good ideas comments on the influence of funding.
They started the community garden on a shoestring.
What does pay through the nose mean?
Pay through the nose means pay an amount that feels much too high. We paid through the nose for a taxi during the storm expresses dissatisfaction with the fare.
They started the community garden with a very small budget.
What is a nest egg?
A nest egg is money someone has saved for a future purpose or an emergency. Noor had a small nest egg for emergencies means that Noor had savings set aside.
In some campaigns, money talks more loudly than good ideas.