Is 'cush' short for 'cushion'?

Yes, it is an informal clipping of 'cushion', metaphorically referring to money that provides a soft landing or security.

Can 'cush' be used as a verb?

No, 'cush' is solely a noun in contemporary slang. The verb would be 'to cushion'.

Is this word related to the adjective 'cushy'?

Yes, they share the same root ('cushion'). 'Cushy' means easy and comfortable, often describing a job, while 'cush' is the money that provides that comfort.

How is 'cush' different from just saying 'money'?

'Cush' is more specific and connotative. It implies a comfortable, often surplus, amount of cash that acts as a safety net, not just any money.

cush

UK/kʊʃ/US/kʊʃ/

Informal, slang.

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

(informal) Money, especially cash.

An informal or slang term for a large amount of money or financial security.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Used to emphasize a comfortable amount of money, often implying a buffer or surplus.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Slightly more common in British English. In American English, 'cushion' is the more typical metaphorical term for financial security.

Connotations

In both varieties, it suggests comfort and security. It can sometimes carry a slightly flashy or boastful connotation.

Frequency

Low frequency overall; primarily found in informal speech and some media (e.g., tabloids, rap lyrics).

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

loads of cusha bit of cushhave cush

medium

need more cushshort of cushsave your cush

weak

earn cushspend cushask for cush

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Subject] + have/need + cush[Subject] + be + short of + cush

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

doughbreadreadies

Neutral

cashmoneyfunds

Weak

capitalresourcesfinances

Vocabulary

Antonyms

debtpovertypenury

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“sitting on a cush”
“cush to burn”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Not used in formal business contexts. Might appear in very casual internal communications or slang.

Academic

Not used.

Everyday

Used in casual conversation among friends, especially when discussing finances informally.

Technical

Not used in any technical fields.

Examples

By CEFR Level

I need a bit more cush before I can go on holiday.

He's been saving hard and now he's got a nice cush put aside for emergencies.
After the bonus, we had enough cush to finally renovate the kitchen.

Despite the market dip, their investment portfolio still provides a significant financial cush.
The inheritance gave him the cush to pursue his passion project without worrying about income.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a plush, comfortable CUSHion stuffed with banknotes instead of feathers.

Conceptual Metaphor

MONEY IS A COMFORTING OBJECT / MONEY IS A BUFFER.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with 'каша' (kasha, porridge).
Not a direct equivalent to 'бабки' or 'лаве' but serves a similar slang function.

Common Mistakes

Using it in formal writing.
Spelling it as 'cushh' or 'cusch'.
Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'three cushes' is incorrect).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

After years of frugal living, they had built up a substantial to fall back on.

Multiple Choice

In which context would 'cush' be LEAST appropriate?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, it is an informal clipping of 'cushion', metaphorically referring to money that provides a soft landing or security.
: No, 'cush' is solely a noun in contemporary slang. The verb would be 'to cushion'.
: Yes, they share the same root ('cushion'). 'Cushy' means easy and comfortable, often describing a job, while 'cush' is the money that provides that comfort.
: 'Cush' is more specific and connotative. It implies a comfortable, often surplus, amount of cash that acts as a safety net, not just any money.