cash
A2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Physical money in the form of coins and banknotes.
Immediate payment in money, as opposed to credit; to exchange a cheque or other financial instrument for money; to obtain money for something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to physical currency but can be used more broadly for immediate payment. The verb form means to convert into cash or to obtain cash for.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. The verb 'to cash a cheque/check' is universal, with the spelling difference (cheque/check).
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Can imply immediacy, tangibility, or a lack of credit.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cash + noun (cash a cheque)cash in + on + noun (cash in on a trend)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cash in hand”
- “cash on the barrelhead”
- “cash cow”
- “cash-strapped”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to liquid assets, immediate payments, and cash flow management.
Academic
Used in economics and finance to discuss monetary policy, liquidity, and the cash economy.
Everyday
Commonly used for transactions, ATMs, and discussing personal finances.
Technical
In accounting, refers to cash accounts and cash equivalents on a balance sheet.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I need to cash this cheque at the bank.
- He decided to cash in his savings bonds.
American English
- Can you cash this check for me?
- They cashed out their investments before the market fell.
adverb
British English
- He paid cash for the tickets.
- They bought the sofa cash.
American English
- She always pays cash.
- I'd like to settle this cash.
adjective
British English
- It's a cash-only business.
- We made a cash payment for the car.
American English
- The vendor requires cash payment.
- Is there a cash discount?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I paid for my lunch with cash.
- Do you have any cash on you?
- The shop gives a discount if you pay in cash.
- I need to get some cash from the cash machine.
- The company's cash flow problems forced it to seek a loan.
- He cashed in his shares when the price peaked.
- The informal economy operates largely on a cash-in-hand basis.
- Investors began to cash out, anticipating a market correction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound a cash register makes: 'cha-ching!' starts with the same 'c' sound as 'cash'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CASH IS A LIQUID (e.g., cash flow, liquidate assets, frozen assets).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'cache' (кэш) which is computer memory.
- Do not use 'cash' for non-physical money like bank account balances in all contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cash' as a countable noun (e.g., 'I have three cashes' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'cash' with 'money' in abstract contexts (e.g., 'He has a lot of cash' vs. 'He has a lot of money').
Practice
Quiz
What does the phrasal verb 'cash in on' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Cash' is an uncountable noun. You cannot say 'a cash' or 'cashes'. You can use quantifiers like 'some cash', 'a lot of cash'.
'Money' is a general, abstract term for a medium of exchange. 'Cash' specifically refers to physical money (notes and coins) or immediate payment in money.
Yes. It means to exchange a cheque, bond, or other financial instrument for cash (e.g., 'cash a cheque') or to obtain cash for something (e.g., 'cash in your chips').
It's a business term referring to the total amount of money being transferred into and out of a business, especially as affecting liquidity.
Collections
Part of a collection
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.
Business Vocabulary
B1 · 50 words · Fundamental language of commerce and trade.