Cash cow
Meaning: A business, product, or investment that consistently generates reliable income.
A 'cash cow' is something that produces steady money with relatively little effort. In business strategy (the BCG matrix), it refers to a high-market-share product in a mature market. In everyday speech, it's anything that reliably makes money.
Examples
- That parking lot is a cash cow — it practically runs itself. 那个停车场简直是棵摇钱树(cash cow)——基本不用管就能赚钱。Ese aparcamiento es una mina de oro (cash cow) — prácticamente funciona solo.あの駐車場はドル箱(cash cow)だ——ほぼ自動で回っている。저 주차장은 효자 상품(cash cow)이야——거의 알아서 굴러가거든.
- The mobile game became their biggest cash cow. 那款手游成了他们最大的摇钱树。El juego para móviles se convirtió en su mayor fuente de ingresos (cash cow).そのモバイルゲームが彼らの最大のドル箱になった。그 모바일 게임이 그들의 최대 수입원(cash cow)이 되었다.
- Rental properties can be real cash cows if you buy in the right area. 如果买对了地段,租赁房产真的能成为摇钱树。Las propiedades en alquiler pueden ser verdaderas minas de oro si compras en la zona adecuada.賃貸物件は適切な場所に買えば本当のドル箱になり得る。임대 부동산은 좋은 위치에 사면 정말 돈 되는 사업(cash cow)이 될 수 있어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: business, investing, casual conversation
Tone: practical, evaluative
✓ Do Say
- That franchise is a cash cow.那个加盟店就是棵摇钱树。Esa franquicia es una mina de oro (cash cow).あのフランチャイズはドル箱だ。그 프랜차이즈는 효자 사업이야.
- Find your cash cow and milk it.找到你的摇钱树,然后好好利用它。Encuentra tu gallina de los huevos de oro y exprímela (Find your cash cow and milk it).ドル箱を見つけて最大限活用しろ。효자 상품을 찾아서 최대한 활용해.
✗ Don't Say
- Widely understood even in business settings — one of the few slang terms acceptable in meetings即使在商业场合也广为人知——少数几个可以在会议中使用的俚语之一Es ampliamente entendido incluso en entornos empresariales — uno de los pocos términos de argot aceptables en reunionesビジネスの場でも広く理解されている——会議で使っても問題ない数少ないスラングの一つ비즈니스 환경에서도 널리 이해되는 표현으로, 회의에서도 사용 가능한 몇 안 되는 슬랭 중 하나
Origin & History
From dairy farming — a cow that produces milk reliably is a steady income source. The term was formalized in business by the Boston Consulting Group's growth-share matrix in the 1970s.
Cultural Context
Era: 1970s onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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