Money, like time, is something that we never seem to have enough of.
Here are five phrasal verbs we use to talk about spending money.
cough up
To pay for something or to send money on something especially when you don't want to.
"She's just coughed up £40 for a speeding fine."
splash out
To spend a lot of money on something that you like but don't really need. You spend more than you need to on something enjoyable.
"For our anniversary we splashed out £500 going to Paris for the weekend."
shell out
To pay or give money for something, usually when you don't want to. Has the same meaning as cough up.
"I'm going to have to shell out £50 getting my TV fixed."
ante up
This is a formal phrasal verb which has the same meaning as cough up and shell out (informal). It means to unwillingly pay for something.
"The company has decided to ante up a large donation to charity."
fritter away
To foolishly waste money. It can also be used to mean waste time.
"I often fritter away my salary on things I don't need. I'm terrible with money."
To help you learn these idioms, take this simple quiz and then write some example sentences.
- up 2000 dollars for a deposit is not the best start when moving in to a new apartment. (Cough)
- The lottery winner had away all of his money before he died.
- To celebrate your promotion let's out on a good bottle of champagne.
- He out 200 pounds every month on taxis. He doesn't want to, but he has no choice.
Comments
5 money idioms
All correct. Nice set of money idioms. I'll try to use them.
I had to cough up before Christmas, my cousins waited for the presents.
She was lucky when she frittered away all her money in supermarket, because the next day she was pickpocketed on the street.
Thank you, Chris, for another brilliant lesson.
Good set of idioms
Thanks for the idioms. Here are my sentences. Feel free if I am wrong on writing these. Please do not count on money i write because do not live America and don't know what costs are there for something.
I had to cough up 50 dollars on a repairing of brakes of my bicycle.
My neighbors always splash out money on small occasions just to boast off their wealth.
I frittered away all my spare money when I came to know the last date of a sale.
Hope they are right.
Have a good day.
What's your favourite English idiom?
What's your favourite English idiom?
Share it with us here:
http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/node/986
Thanks,
Chris
My favorite
My favorite English idiom is "As You Sow, So Shall You Reap"
It's in my language too. Let's See if you can understand,
"Jehri Karni Tehri Bharni"
Rather difficult
Rather difficult idioms!!!!
They have the same meaning - "the empty pocket' - I don't know such idiom in English!
I've frittered away learning these idioms. I can't them remember!!!
Thank you for the Lesson!
cough up, splash out, shel out,ante up, frittet away..bankruptcy
anh.le
My husband really interests in lottery tickets. Whenever hanging out with me and unfortunately seeing a lottery seller, I have to cough up 40 or 50 thousand VND for his wasteful habit.
I'm always complaining him about this, but I'm sure he never knows that I also splash out whenever I see an attractive dress or anything I like and I don't care how much it is at the moment.
We know shelling out is not a good habit to do and to teach my child in that way so maybe we should learn how to tighten our belt before we bankrupt and before my child follows up our step.
donating to a charity is a good thing to do as it helps people recognize the morality in our community and teach children to become kind-hearted citizen but unfortunately some people think that just antes up.
If you win lottery ticket, please use it meaningfully instead of frittering away.