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[0481] Money to burn

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English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Having excess money to spend frivolously or wastefully.

Origin

  • Likely metaphorical, dating back to at least the early 20th century.
  • Evokes the image of having so much surplus currency that one could literally set fire to some of it without significant personal financial impact.
  • It emphasizes extreme excess and the potential for careless or ostentatious spending.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Rolling in it
  • Filthy rich
  • Loaded
  • Made of money
  • Deep pockets
  • Flush with cash

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Rolling in dough
  • Got cash falling out their pockets
  • Swimming in money
  • Got more money than sense (Emphasizes foolish spending)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Got fuck-you money (Having enough wealth to be independent and disregard others' opinions/authority)
  • Pissing money away (Strongly emphasizes wasteful spending)

Milder:

  • Very well-off
  • Financially comfortable
  • Has significant disposable income
  • Doesn't need to worry about money

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal.
  • Can sound judgmental or envious. Avoid in formal settings or when trying to be respectful about someone's finances.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Unlikely to be taken literally (setting money on fire).
  • The main nuance is the implication of *excess* and often *wasteful* spending, which can carry a negative judgment.

Examples

  • He bought a yacht just for weekend trips? He must have money to burn.
  • After winning the lottery, she suddenly had money to burn.

Dialogue

A: Did you hear Sarah bought another designer handbag? That's the third one this month!

B: Wow, she really has money to burn, doesn't she?

A: Seriously. I'm struggling to pay my bills, and she's buying thousand-dollar bags.

Social Media Examples

  • Tweet: Celebrities complaining about minor inconveniences while flying private... talk about having money to burn. #FirstWorldProblems
  • Comment on a lavish purchase photo: Damn, must have money to burn! 🔥 Looks amazing though.
  • Forum post: Is it financially irresponsible to upgrade my perfectly fine phone, or do I just have money to burn this month?

Response Patterns

  • Must be nice. (Often slightly envious)
  • Seriously? How did they get so rich?
  • Some people have all the luck.
  • Agreement: Yeah, they definitely seem to have money to burn.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • Inquiring about the source of the wealth: Where does all that money come from?
  • Discussing other examples of the person's spending: What else have they bought?
  • Contrasting with one's own financial situation: Wish I had that problem!

Conversation Starter

  • No.
  • Typically a comment made *about* someone else's perceived wealth or spending habits, not an opener.

Intonation

  • Often carries a tone of disbelief, envy, slight criticism, or amazement.
  • Stress typically falls on MONEY and BURN.

Generation Differences

  • Widely understood across generations.
  • The concept is timeless, though the expression itself might feel slightly more traditional to some.

Regional Variations

  • Common in most major English-speaking regions (US, UK, Aus, Can).
Foot the bill
🎲 Rake it in