{"id":8564,"date":"2026-08-20T17:06:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T17:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/18kenglish.com\/english-idioms-money-finance-10-expressions-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T17:06:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T17:06:38","slug":"english-idioms-money-finance-10-expressions-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/18kenglish.com\/id\/english-idioms-money-finance-10-expressions-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"English Idioms: Money & Finance \u2014 10 Expressions You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u7121\u8ad6\u662f\u8ac7\u5224\u85aa\u6c34\u3001\u8a0e\u8ad6\u9810\u7b97\uff0c\u9084\u662f\u770b\u82f1\u8a9e\u65b0\u805e\uff0c\u4f60\u90fd\u6703\u9047\u5230\u5927\u91cf\u95dc\u65bc\u91d1\u9322\u7684\u82f1\u8a9e\u6163\u7528\u8a9e\u3002Whether you’re negotiating a salary, talking about a budget, or watching the news in English, you’ll encounter money idioms constantly. Native speakers use these expressions in boardrooms, classrooms, and everyday conversation. In this article, we explore 10 essential English idioms about money and finance<\/strong> \u2014 with Chinese translations, meanings, origins, and real example sentences you can use right away.<\/p>\n

\u9019\u4e9b\u6163\u7528\u8a9e\u5f9e\u65e5\u5e38\u7684\u7dca\u7e2e\u9810\u7b97\u8868\u9054\u5230\u95dc\u65bc\u8ca1\u5bcc\u8207\u5f71\u97ff\u529b\u7684\u6709\u529b\u8afa\u8a9e\uff0c\u6db5\u84cb\u7bc4\u570d\u5ee3\u6cdb\u3002\u638c\u63e1\u5b83\u5011\u4e0d\u50c5\u80fd\u5e6b\u52a9\u4f60\u807d\u61c2\u82f1\u8a9e\u6bcd\u8a9e\u8005\u7684\u5c0d\u8a71\uff0c\u66f4\u80fd\u8b93\u4f60\u5728\u8a0e\u8ad6\u8ca1\u52d9\u8a71\u984c\u6642\u807d\u8d77\u4f86\u81ea\u7136\u6d41\u66a2\u3002These expressions range from everyday phrases about tight budgets to powerful proverbs about wealth. Mastering them will help you understand native speakers and express yourself with confidence.<\/p>\n

\"Piggy<\/figure>\n

1. Cost an Arm and a Leg \u50f9\u683c\u8cb4\u5f97\u8981\u547d<\/h2>\n

Arti:<\/strong> To be extremely expensive; to cost a very large amount of money.<\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u6587\u610f\u601d\uff1a<\/strong>\u50f9\u683c\u975e\u5e38\u6602\u8cb4\uff1b\u82b1\u8cbb\u5927\u91cf\u91d1\u9322\u3002\u5b57\u9762\u610f\u601d\u662f\u300c\u82b1\u8cbb\u4e00\u689d\u624b\u81c2\u548c\u4e00\u689d\u817f\u300d\uff0c\u5f62\u5bb9\u67d0\u7269\u7684\u4ee3\u50f9\u9ad8\u5f97\u4ee4\u4eba\u548b\u820c\u3002<\/p>\n

Asal:<\/strong> The exact origin is debated, but the phrase has been in common use since the mid-20th century. Some trace it to portrait painters who charged more for depicting more limbs. Others link it to wartime sacrifice. Regardless, the vivid image of paying with body parts captures how painfully expensive something can be.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 1:<\/em> Renting an apartment in central Tokyo costs an arm and a leg \u2014 most young people live far from the city. \uff08\u5728\u6771\u4eac\u5e02\u4e2d\u5fc3\u79df\u623f\u5b50\u8cb4\u5f97\u8981\u547d\u2014\u2014\u5927\u591a\u6578\u5e74\u8f15\u4eba\u53ea\u80fd\u4f4f\u5728\u57ce\u5e02\u5916\u570d\u3002\uff09<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 2:<\/em> “That designer bag costs an arm and a leg,” she said, putting it back reluctantly.<\/p>\n

\"Coins<\/figure>\n

2. Break the Bank \u82b1\u5149\u6240\u6709\u7a4d\u84c4<\/h2>\n

Arti:<\/strong> To be so expensive that it exhausts all your financial resources; to spend far more than you can comfortably afford.<\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u6587\u610f\u601d\uff1a<\/strong>\u82b1\u8cbb\u592a\u591a\u4ee5\u81f4\u8017\u76e1\u6240\u6709\u8ca1\u529b\u8cc7\u6e90\uff1b\u652f\u51fa\u9060\u8d85\u904e\u81ea\u5df1\u80fd\u8ca0\u64d4\u7684\u7bc4\u570d\u3002<\/p>\n

Asal:<\/strong> This expression comes from the gambling world, especially the famous casinos of Monte Carlo in the 19th century. When a player won more chips than the casino kept at a single table, the bank was “broken” \u2014 the dealer covered the table with a black cloth. The phrase entered everyday English to describe any expense that wipes out your finances.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 1:<\/em> You don’t need to break the bank to have a great vacation \u2014 there are many affordable destinations with stunning scenery. \uff08\u4f60\u4e0d\u5fc5\u82b1\u5149\u6240\u6709\u7a4d\u84c4\u624d\u80fd\u4eab\u53d7\u7f8e\u597d\u7684\u5047\u671f\u2014\u2014\u6709\u5f88\u591a\u98a8\u666f\u512a\u7f8e\u7684\u5e73\u50f9\u666f\u9ede\u3002\uff09<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 2:<\/em> The wedding didn’t break the bank because they chose a beautiful outdoor venue instead of an expensive hotel.<\/p>\n

3. In the Red \u8667\u640d\uff1b\u8d64\u5b57<\/h2>\n

Arti:<\/strong> To be in debt; to have spent more money than you have earned; to have a negative bank balance or be running at a financial loss.<\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u6587\u610f\u601d\uff1a<\/strong>\u8655\u65bc\u8ca0\u50b5\u72c0\u614b\uff1b\u652f\u51fa\u8d85\u904e\u6536\u5165\uff1b\u9280\u884c\u5e33\u6236\u5448\u8ca0\u6578\uff0c\u6216\u4e8b\u696d\u8655\u65bc\u8667\u640d\u72c0\u614b\u3002<\/p>\n

Asal:<\/strong> This phrase comes from traditional bookkeeping practices. For centuries, accountants recorded financial losses and debts in red ink, while profits were written in black ink. If a business or individual was “in the red,” their accounts showed more debt than profit. The phrase remains widely used in business and banking today.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 1:<\/em> After three months of low sales, the small restaurant found itself deep in the red and had to take out a loan. \uff08\u4e09\u500b\u6708\u696d\u7e3e\u6158\u6de1\u5f8c\uff0c\u9019\u5bb6\u5c0f\u9910\u5ef3\u6df1\u9677\u8667\u640d\uff0c\u4e0d\u5f97\u4e0d\u7533\u8acb\u8cb8\u6b3e\u3002\uff09<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 2:<\/em> I was in the red for most of my twenties \u2014 student loans are no joke.<\/p>\n

\"Dollar<\/figure>\n

4. In the Black \u76c8\u5229\uff1b\u8ca1\u52d9\u5065\u5eb7<\/h2>\n

Arti:<\/strong> To be financially profitable; to have more money coming in than going out; to have a positive bank balance or be operating at a profit.<\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u6587\u610f\u601d\uff1a<\/strong>\u8655\u65bc\u76c8\u5229\u72c0\u614b\uff1b\u6536\u5165\u591a\u65bc\u652f\u51fa\uff1b\u9280\u884c\u5e33\u6236\u5448\u6b63\u6578\uff0c\u6216\u4e8b\u696d\u6b63\u5728\u7372\u5229\u3002<\/p>\n

Asal:<\/strong> From the same bookkeeping tradition as “in the red” \u2014 profits were recorded in black ink. When a business’s accounts showed more black than red, they were financially healthy. “Black Friday” in the US gets its name from this tradition \u2014 it was historically the day when retailers moved from the red into the black for the year.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 1:<\/em> After two difficult years, the company is finally back in the black and planning to expand. \uff08\u7d93\u6b77\u4e86\u5169\u5e74\u7684\u8271\u96e3\u6642\u671f\uff0c\u516c\u53f8\u7d42\u65bc\u6062\u5fa9\u76c8\u5229\uff0c\u4e26\u8a08\u5283\u64f4\u5927\u898f\u6a21\u3002\uff09<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 2:<\/em> Her freelance business stayed in the black all year, giving her the confidence to quit her day job.<\/p>\n

5. Nest Egg \u7a4d\u84c4\uff1b\u9000\u4f11\u5132\u5099\u91d1<\/h2>\n

Arti:<\/strong> A sum of money saved over time, usually for a specific future purpose such as retirement, a major purchase, or an emergency fund.<\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u6587\u610f\u601d\uff1a<\/strong>\u9577\u671f\u7a4d\u7d2f\u7684\u5132\u84c4\u91d1\uff0c\u901a\u5e38\u7528\u65bc\u7279\u5b9a\u7684\u672a\u4f86\u76ee\u7684\uff0c\u5982\u9000\u4f11\u3001\u91cd\u5927\u8cfc\u7f6e\u6216\u7dca\u6025\u5099\u7528\u91d1\u3002<\/p>\n

Asal:<\/strong> The term comes from an old farming practice. Farmers would place a real egg \u2014 or a ceramic dummy egg \u2014 in a hen’s nest to encourage her to keep laying eggs in the same spot. The “nest egg” started small but was meant to grow. By the 17th century, the phrase had become an English metaphor for savings set aside to grow over time.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 1:<\/em> After thirty years of careful saving, he had built up a comfortable nest egg to fund his retirement. \uff08\u7d93\u904e\u4e09\u5341\u5e74\u7684\u8b39\u614e\u5132\u84c4\uff0c\u4ed6\u7a4d\u7d2f\u4e86\u4e00\u7b46\u53ef\u89c0\u7684\u9000\u4f11\u91d1\u3002\uff09<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 2:<\/em> Financial advisors recommend starting your nest egg as early as possible \u2014 even small contributions grow significantly over time.<\/p>\n

\"Business<\/figure>\n

6. Pay Through the Nose \u4ed8\u51fa\u6975\u9ad8\u4ee3\u50f9<\/h2>\n

Arti:<\/strong> To pay an extremely high price for something, far more than it is worth or than you expected; to be significantly overcharged.<\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u6587\u610f\u601d\uff1a<\/strong>\u70ba\u67d0\u6a23\u6771\u897f\u4ed8\u51fa\u6975\u9ad8\u7684\u50f9\u683c\uff0c\u9060\u8d85\u5176\u5be6\u969b\u50f9\u503c\u6216\u9810\u671f\u91d1\u984d\uff1b\u88ab\u56b4\u91cd\u7d22\u53d6\u904e\u9ad8\u8cbb\u7528\u3002<\/p>\n

Asal:<\/strong> One colorful theory traces this phrase to 9th-century Ireland, where Danish Vikings imposed a harsh poll tax on the Irish. Those who failed to pay reportedly had their noses slit as punishment. While historians debate the true origin, the phrase has been recorded in English since the 17th century and vividly captures the pain of being overcharged.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 1:<\/em> Because we booked flights last minute, we paid through the nose \u2014 the tickets cost almost three times the normal price. \uff08\u56e0\u70ba\u6211\u5011\u81e8\u6642\u8a02\u6a5f\u7968\uff0c\u4ed8\u51fa\u4e86\u6975\u9ad8\u7684\u4ee3\u50f9\u2014\u2014\u7968\u50f9\u5e7e\u4e4e\u662f\u6b63\u5e38\u50f9\u683c\u7684\u4e09\u500d\u3002\uff09<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 2:<\/em> Tourists who don’t research prices in advance often pay through the nose for taxis near popular landmarks.<\/p>\n

7. Money Talks \u6709\u9322\u80fd\u4f7f\u9b3c\u63a8\u78e8<\/h2>\n

Arti:<\/strong> Wealth gives power and influence; having money allows you to get things done, open doors, and persuade people in ways that words alone cannot.<\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u6587\u610f\u601d\uff1a<\/strong>\u91d1\u9322\u8ce6\u4e88\u6b0a\u529b\u548c\u5f71\u97ff\u529b\uff1b\u64c1\u6709\u91d1\u9322\u8b93\u4f60\u80fd\u5b8c\u6210\u4e8b\u60c5\u3001\u6253\u901a\u95dc\u4fc2\uff0c\u9054\u5230\u8a00\u8a9e\u7121\u6cd5\u4f01\u53ca\u7684\u6548\u679c\u3002<\/p>\n

Asal:<\/strong> The idea that money equals power is ancient, but the compact English phrase “money talks” became widely popular in the 20th century. The full saying is often “money talks, everything else walks.” Shakespeare explored similar themes centuries earlier: “Money is a good soldier, and will on” (The Merry Wives of Windsor<\/em>).<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 1:<\/em> The project got approved the moment the CEO mentioned the budget \u2014 money talks in business, plain and simple. \uff08CEO\u4e00\u63d0\u5230\u9810\u7b97\uff0c\u5c08\u6848\u7acb\u523b\u7372\u6279\u2014\u2014\u5728\u5546\u696d\u4e16\u754c\uff0c\u6709\u9322\u80fd\u4f7f\u9b3c\u63a8\u78e8\u3002\uff09<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Example 2:<\/em> It’s sad but true: money talks in the music industry, and independent artists often struggle to get noticed.<\/p>\n

Watch & Learn: Money Idioms in Action<\/h2>\n
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