cash
Money as coins or bills
Money in the form of coins or paper notes, not credit cards or checks.
pay [someone] in cash
- She paid for the groceries in cash.
- The shop offers a discount for cash purchases.
- I don't carry much cash with me.
- He withdrew some cash from the ATM.
- Please pay the driver in cash.
- I have some cash in my wallet.
- We paid cash for the tickets.
- Do you take cash or cards?
- I need to get some cash from the bank.
Exchange check/voucher for money
To give a check or ticket to a bank or store and get money for it.
cash [a check/ticket]
- I need to cash this check before the bank closes.
- She cashed her winning lottery ticket.
- You can cash travelers' checks at the airport.
- He cashed his paycheck and paid his bills.
- I will cash my check at the bank.
- She cashed her ticket yesterday.
- He wants to cash his paycheck.
Sell investment for money
To change something you own, like shares or bonds, into money by selling it.
cash in [something]
- She decided to cash in her shares before the market dropped.
- He cashed in his savings bonds to buy a car.
- The company cashed in some assets to pay debts.
- I will cash in my stocks now.
- She cashed in her bonds last year.
- They cashed in their shares to get money.
- Base: cash
- Plural: cash
- Base: cash
- 3rd Person Singular: cashes
- Present Participle: cashing
- Past: cashed
cash in on
1Take advantage for profit
To get money or benefit from something, especially quickly or unfairly.
- The company is trying to cash in on the popularity of electric cars.
- He cashed in on his fame by starting a clothing line.
cash out
1Withdraw invested money as cash
To take your money out of an account or investment and get it as cash.
- She decided to cash out her retirement fund early.
- He cashed out his chips at the casino.
cold hard cash
1Physical spendable money
Money that you can hold and spend right away, not credit or promises.
- They offered to pay me in cold hard cash.
- Cold hard cash is still king at small markets.
pay cash
1Pay using physical currency
To give coins or paper notes to buy something instead of using a card or check.
- We decided to pay cash for the car.
- You get a discount if you pay cash.
cash cow
1Profitable business/product source
A business or product that makes a lot of profit regularly without much work.
- That software has been the company's cash cow for years.
- The franchise is their biggest cash cow.
cash cow
2very profitable, low-effort product
A product or business that brings in a lot of money regularly, usually without needing much extra work or investment.
- The company’s streaming service has become its main cash cow.
- They treat the luxury brand as a cash cow to fund new projects.
- For many years, the soft drink division was the firm’s reliable cash cow.