Money & Finance

Talking about pounds, pence, and being skint

Introduction

Money makes the world go round, and the British have developed a colourful vocabulary for discussing it—particularly for discussing its absence. From "quid" (the everyday word for pounds) to "skint" (having none at all), these terms reflect a practical, often humorous approach to personal finance.

What's notable about British money slang is how classless it has become. "Quid" is used by everyone from market traders to Members of Parliament. Being "skint" is a universally understood state that transcends social boundaries—we've all been there.

The origins of these terms often reflect Britain's commercial history, from Latin traders to Cockney market sellers. Understanding this vocabulary is essential for anyone navigating British daily life, from splitting a bill to discussing salaries.

Themes

All British Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (94)

• Quid British pound sterling (informal)
• Fiver A five pound note
• Tenner A ten pound note
• Bob One shilling (historical); still used idiomatically
• Dosh Money, cash
• Readies Ready cash, money on hand
• Lolly Money
• Wonga Money, cash
• Brassic Broke, having no money
• Loaded Very wealthy, having lots of money
• Hard Up Short of money, financially struggling
• Strapped Short of money, financially tight
• Splash Out To spend money extravagantly
• Blow To spend money quickly or wastefully
• Cough Up To reluctantly pay or hand over money
• Fork Out To pay, often reluctantly or for something expensive
• Shell Out To pay out money, especially reluctantly
• Rip-off A fraudulent overcharge or swindle
• Pricey Expensive
• Steep Expensive, high-priced
• Dear Expensive (British)
• Cheap as Chips Very inexpensive, a great bargain
• Cost a Bomb Very expensive
• Cost an Arm and a Leg Extremely expensive
• Make a Killing To make a lot of money quickly
• Earn a Crust To earn a living, make money to survive
• Penny Pinching Extremely frugal, stingy with money
• Tight Stingy, unwilling to spend
• Splurge To spend money freely and extravagantly
• Broke Having no money
• Buck A dollar (American)
• Grand One thousand pounds/dollars
• Quid Pro Quo Something given in exchange for something else
• Piggy Bank A container for saving coins; personal savings
• Pay Through the Nose To pay an excessive amount
• Bread Money
• Dough Money
• skint having no money
• Daylight robbery Shamelessly excessive pricing, a rip-off
• Quids in In profit, in a favorable financial position
• Money for old rope Easy money, profit for minimal effort
• Get down to brass tacks To focus on the essential, practical details
• Not worth tuppence Worthless, of no value
• Money doesn't grow on trees Money is not unlimited; it must be earned
• Penny pincher A person who is excessively frugal or stingy
• Rolling in it Very wealthy, having lots of money
• Bread and butter Basic income or livelihood; core business
• Flush Having plenty of money (temporarily)
• Foot the bill To pay for something, especially the total cost
• Going rate The current standard price or fee
• Make ends meet To earn just enough money to cover basic expenses
• Nest egg Savings set aside for the future
• Paid peanuts Paid a very small, inadequate amount
• Pretty penny A large amount of money
• Raking it in Making a lot of money, especially quickly
• Save for a rainy day To save money for future emergencies or needs
• Tight-fisted Very unwilling to spend money, miserly
• Tighten one's belt To spend less money, economize
• Time is money Time is valuable and shouldn't be wasted
• Worth one's weight in gold Extremely valuable or useful
• Coining it Making a lot of money quickly
• Dirt cheap Extremely inexpensive
• Bank on To rely or depend on something happening
• In the red In debt, losing money
• In the black Profitable, having positive balance
• Come into money To inherit or suddenly receive money
• Bet your bottom dollar To be absolutely certain about something
• Pinch pennies To be very careful with money, to economize strictly
• Brass Money (Northern British)
• Loadsamoney Ostentatious display of wealth
• Wedge A large amount of money
• Bung A bribe or illicit payment
• Spondulicks Money, cash
• Filthy Lucre Money, especially dishonestly gained
• Flat Broke Completely without money
• Strapped for Cash Short of money
• On the House Free, paid for by the establishment
• Go Dutch Split the bill equally
• Chip In Contribute money to a shared cost
• Whip Round Collection of money from a group
• Rake It In Make a lot of money quickly
• Bailout Financial rescue
• Rainy Day Fund Emergency savings
• Breadwinner Main household earner
• Tighten Your Belt Reduce spending
• Money Pit Something that constantly drains money
• Golden Parachute Executive severance package
• Windfall Unexpected financial gain
• Slush Fund Secret fund for improper purposes
• Seed Money Initial funding for a venture
• Black Market Illegal trade
• Under the Table Payment avoiding tax/records
• Cash in Hand Untaxed cash payment
• Bottom Line Final profit/loss; essential point